Definition

Noun: 1. The academic discipline of analyzing literature: "Literary study" refers to the systematic, humanistic examination of written works, including their forms, historical contexts, themes, and cultural significance. It involves critical analysis and interpretation.

Usage

• "Literary study" is a formal, academic term used to describe the field of scholarship and education focused on literature.
• It is often used in contrast to or alongside other disciplines like historical study or scientific study.
• It can refer to the general activity ("She is engaged in literary study") or the specific field as a whole ("He works in the department of literary study").

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Pursue literary study": To undertake formal academic work in this field.
  • After his military service, he decided to pursue literary study at university.
• "Approaches to literary study": Refers to the different critical methods or theories (e.g., feminist, postcolonial, formalist) used to analyze texts.
  • The course surveyed the major approaches to literary study developed in the 20th century.

Variants and Related Words

• Literary criticism (n): The practice of interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating literature. This is a core activity within literary study.
  • Her work in literary criticism has been widely influential.
• Literary theory (n): The systematic study of the nature of literature and the methods for its analysis. This provides the philosophical frameworks for literary study.
  • Understanding literary theory is essential for advanced literary study.
• Literary analysis (n): The close examination and interpretation of a specific literary text.
  • The essay was a brilliant piece of literary analysis.

Synonyms

• Literary criticism: Often used interchangeably, though it can more specifically denote the act of evaluation.
• Literature (as a field of study): e.g., "She studied literature at Oxford."
• Philology (in a historical sense): The historical and comparative study of language and texts, a precursor to modern literary study.

Related Phrases

• Close reading: A fundamental technique in literary study involving detailed, careful analysis of a text's language and structure.
  • The professor emphasized the importance of close reading in all literary study.
• Canon formation: A topic within literary study concerning which works are considered important or authoritative.
  • Debates about canon formation are central to contemporary literary study.

Noun

1. the humanistic study of literature