Which term refers to the study of works in isolation?

• A. Literary criticism
• B. Literary theory
• C. Literary history
• D. Canon law

Answer: (A)

Close, standalone analysis of a literary work is called literary criticism. It focuses on examining a single text—the language, structure, imagery, and themes—and on how the work communicates meaning through its craft. This approach treats the piece as a self-contained object and analyzes its merits and effects without requiring alignment with a larger theory or historical framework. That emphasis on evaluating the work itself—its techniques, choices, and impact—defines literary criticism. By comparison, literary theory offers interpretive lenses, literary history looks at how works evolve within time, and canon law is unrelated to literature.