Literary criticism analyzes stories, folk tales, poems, and essays to uncover deeper meanings, themes, and author intentions, exploring narrative structure, character development, symbolism, and cultural context.
Literary criticism involves the evaluation, analysis, description, and interpretation of literature. When applied to stories, folk tales, poems, and essays, it seeks to uncover deeper meanings, themes, and the author's intentions. Critics often explore the narrative structure, character development, symbolism, and cultural context of these works. For instance, in folk tales, critics may examine how cultural values and traditions are represented, while in poems, they might focus on the use of language, imagery, and meter. Essays, on the other hand, are often scrutinized for their argumentative strength, clarity, and persuasive techniques. Through literary criticism, readers gain a richer understanding of the text and its significance within the broader literary landscape.