(June 2, 2022 at 9:48 am)Angrboda Wrote: [...]
Literary analysis deals primarily with structure rather than execution.
[...]
Not quite sure what you mean here. When I think of literary analysis, I think of someone identifying and pointing out what's going on in the text -- beyond just restating the plot. As I understand it, this can address both structure and execution (if I understand what you mean by those things).
For example, as you read Nabokov it's useful to understand how he often foreshadows elements of the plot with puns and allusions. This is something that isn't immediately obvious, and it's a pleasure when we realize what he's up to. I guess this falls under the category of structural analysis.
You could also analyze his prose by noticing and pointing out the witty, absolutely non-cliched ways in which he says things. To me, this is about execution.
I would say that enjoyment and awareness of the beauty of the work is increased through this kind of analysis. It allows us to notice qualities which aren't obvious to more casual reading. It's true that this happens over time, and has this in common with music.
In a different way, I think this sort of unfolding over time happens with good painting, as well. Coming back to the same work over time will allow us to discover things we didn't see before. Partly the change is in the viewer, of course. We are more aware and open to things at different parts of our lives. Partly the unfolding happens because of the picture, which may have more going on in it than is apparent at first glance. (And we might use this as a way to think about quality, as well. I think there are popular pictures in which the whole thing is revealed in a glance, and that there will be no increase in enjoyment by living with them. The opposite in fact -- they get boring.)
