What does "meaning" refer to in literary analysis?

In literary analysis, "meaning" refers to the significance or interpretation of something within a text. This involves examining themes, symbols, character motivations, and the overall message that the author conveys. Understanding the meaning of a work allows readers to engage deeply with the text and appreciate its nuances, as well as how it reflects broader human experiences or societal issues. In this context, meaning is about extracting the deeper implications and insights that a story or poem offers, rather than just the surface details like writing style, audience, or plot structure. These elements—while important in their own right—do not encapsulate the core idea of what "meaning" entails in literary analysis.