What is one thing you wish more students understood about literature or the process of literary analysis? What is the most common misconception you want to correct?

"One thing I wish more students understood about literature is that there's rarely a single 'correct' interpretation. Literary analysis isn't about finding hidden meanings the author supposedly buried, but about constructing a persuasive argument for your interpretation based on textual evidence and literary context. The most common misconception is that literary analysis is a hunt for symbols with fixed meanings. Instead, it's a creative and critical engagement with the text, exploring how its various elements (language, structure, theme) work together to produce potential meanings and effects. It's about the 'how' and 'why,' not just the 'what.'

One thing I wish more students understood is that literary analysis isn't about finding one "right" answer or just summarizing the story. It's really about exploring different perspectives and connecting the text to bigger ideas—like culture, history, or human emotions. A common misconception I see is students thinking they have to memorize themes or meanings instead of engaging with the text thoughtfully. Literature is alive; it invites questions and discussions. When students realize this, their reading becomes more personal and meaningful. That's when true learning happens.