A literary interpretation is based on which of the following?

A.

a broad idea about a text

B.

what the story means to you

C.

careful analysis of the text itself

D.

all of the above

The correct answer is: C. careful analysis of the text itself.

Indeed, it could not be a broad idea about the text since literary interpretation dwells on very precise and focused examination of the text itself and a broad idea is the contrary of such procedure. It could not also be what the story means to a particular person, unless it coincides with the findings obtained after careful analysis of the text.

Careful analysis of a literary text involves a very thorough and deepened analysis of a text. Such text is examined down to its letters, their sounds, the repetition of words, the literary figures, the symbolism, etc. This is the textual information, the paratextual and metatextual and the intertextual information of the text is also researched and analyzed.