The attempt to define the concept of literature lead to a certain fuzziness of the term. However, it seems possible to define the features which share in the constitution of meaning of (literary) texts. These features are what is to be considered when it comes to interpreting literature.

As stated above different schools of criticism have focused more or less strictly on one of the four features and have pushed the others into the background. This appears to be a deficit whenever it occurs. Sound and careful interpretations in the best case consider all important perspectives. For your own approach this has two major consequences. First, it helps you to criticise criticism. Second, you should pay attention to your own proceedings. The least you should do when you interpret texts yourself is to reflect on your own method, and explain on which method you concentrate and why you skipped the other perspectives, if you decided to do so, which sometimes may be necessary due to the required extent of your interpretation.

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