The term that means setting forth of one or more meanings of a work of literature is called what?

• A. Interpretation
• B. Evaluation
• C. Analysis
• D. Criticism

Answer: (A)

Interpreting a literary work is about drawing out and expressing its meanings. When you interpret, you look at imagery, symbolism, themes, and how the author’s choices shape what the text says about life, human nature, or society, and you present a coherent reading supported by evidence from the text. This goes beyond just describing what happens or how the piece is put together; it explains what the work means to readers and how those meanings are created. Evaluation is about judging quality, analysis breaks the work into parts to understand how it works, and criticism is a broad discussion that can include judgments and interpretations. So, offering an interpretation is precisely about setting forth the meanings the text conveys.