How is the "literariness" of a text determined? How do metaphor, connotation, meter, irony, voice, focus, and character deletion work? What does it mean to interpret, distance oneself, and creatively transform parts of a text or write a new one of my own? The modern approach to literature in schools requires the cultivation of critical ability and flexibility. Educators, students (even those who struggle), and those with a broader interest in literature will find in this book a rich theoretical background and a wealth of examples, mainly from existing textbooks.