* Artistic merit: It demonstrates skill and creativity in writing.
* Stylistic sophistication: It employs advanced techniques like metaphor, imagery, and symbolism.
* Intellectual depth: It explores complex themes and ideas.
* Canonicity: It might be considered part of the established body of significant works in a given culture or language.
For example, a "literary analysis" is a detailed examination of a text's meaning and techniques, while a "literary critic" is someone who studies and evaluates literature. A "literary magazine" publishes high-quality, often experimental, writing. Something might be described as "literary" even if it's not strictly fiction; a biography, for instance, might be considered literary if it's written with a strong narrative voice and stylistic flair.