Final answer:
Critical literary theory is true in its aim to broaden literary understanding through various interpretative approaches. It provides tools for analyzing literature from multiple perspectives and encourages personal connections to texts. Literary theories are sophisticated and can help deepen appreciation and analysis of literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Critical literary theory does indeed seek to broaden understanding through interpretations. The assertion that this theory works to expand our comprehension of literary texts is true. By employing various interpretive methods, literary theory allows readers and students to approach and analyze texts from multiple angles, delving into the complex layers of meaning within. For instance, theories can draw on the work of other critics, focus on the reader's engagement with the text, or apply a historical perspective to the analysis. As such, literary theory is not restrictive; rather, it opens up a multitude of possibilities for interpretation, making literature accessible and resonant on a personal level. Engaging with literary theories provides a toolbox for readers, enabling them to tackle literature with a set of interpretive strategies. Whether it is through class discussions, paper-writing, or publishing critiques, students learn to argue for their interpretations or challenge existing ones. Approaching a piece of literature with specific questions posed by different theories allows for a multi-faceted analysis, often illuminating areas that remain hidden under a single, traditional reading.