What is the purpose of a defense of a claim in literary analysis?

In literary analysis, the defense of a claim serves to establish the credibility and reasonableness of an assertion made about a text. When a literary analyst presents a claim—whether regarding a theme, a character's motivations, or stylistic choices—they must provide support for that claim through evidence from the work itself. This may include quotations, references to specific passages, and connections to broader literary concepts or historical context. By defending a claim, the analyst demonstrates that their interpretation is not just a personal opinion, but one grounded in textual evidence, thus enhancing the validity of their analysis.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of defending a claim. Summarizing the main ideas merely condenses the work rather than critically engaging with it. Providing entertainment is not a primary objective of literary analysis, which focuses on critical evaluation rather than amusement. Introducing characters might be relevant in discussing a text, but it does not serve the specific function of justifying or substantiating a claim made about the text. Therefore, marking an assertion as reasonable is the most fitting and accurate purpose of a defense in literary analysis.