LITERARY CRITICISM IS analysis, interpretation and evaluation of authors and their works of literature, which can include novels, short stories, essays, plays and poetry. 

Such critical analysis is often written by literary critics and is found in essays, articles and books.

Literary "criticism" is not necessarily negative; "criticism" means a thoughtful critique of an author's work or an author's style in order to better understand the meaning, symbolism or influences of a particular piece or a body of literature.

When you write your own analysis of a short story, poem, or play, you are stepping into ongoing conversations on that text, some popular and some scholarly. Learn from others' ideas, use them to help you better understand your text, and integrate interesting and relevant ideas into your own analysis. Just be sure to cite the sources you use.

Please note: While you may find criticism of the specific text you are analyzing, cast your research net wide and look for criticism on the author's work as a whole, on specific themes in the author's work, on other poems/stories/plays by that author, or on a literary movement or moment your author is part of. And then synthesize those relevant ideas into your own discussion and analysis.