Described in this article is a critical procedure in the study of literature defined by the author as a method of responsive interrogation of the text. The approach is guided by a study of relevant political, sociological, literary, and intellectual circumstances. Three fundamental questions are central to the discussion of the theory: (1) What does the writer say?, (2) Why does he say this?, and (3) How does he say it? Commentary includes reference to semantics, meaning, literary translation, and structural analysis. (RL)