Definition: Literary analysis. Literary analysis, sometimes called literary criticism, is the argumentative analysis of academic writing. It is a method of critical examination in which various elements of a literary work are closely studied and interpreted. Although a summary is necessary in the argument, the goal is not to write a report. A literary analysis essay is a document that allows a student to read a novel, poem, short story, or other text to examine how the author uses certain knowledge. , such as literary devices, and interpret. In composition, analysis is a form of expository writing in which the writer separates a subject into its elements or parts. When applied to a literary work such as a poem, short story, or essay, analysis involves careful examination and evaluation of the details of the text, as in a critical essay. Maybe you'll discuss the theme, the symbolism. A literary analysis essay is writing in which you examine a piece of literature and understand the connections between small parts of texts and the whole work, and put it on paper. By writing this type of essay, students can better understand the meaning of literature. It involves breaking a book into parts and considering each part.