Final answer:
Literary analysis involves examining various components of a text to understand the work as a whole and interpret its meaning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Literary analysis involves examining various components of a text, such as subject, form, and word choices, to understand the work as a whole. It allows readers to analyze the author's choices and their impact on the story or poem. Literary analysis is important in essays on literary analysis because it helps readers gain a deeper understanding of the work, interpret its meaning, and appreciate its artistic merit.