Commentary
A commentary is an explanatory interpretation of a text, often developed through close engagement with its wording, structure, and arguments.
Close reading: A method of careful textual analysis attentive to wording, form, structure, and implication. Commentary often builds its claims from details that broad summaries overlook.
Literary commentary: Interpretive discussion of a literary work's language, structure, themes, and effects. It is a direct instance of commentary centered on literary form and meaning.
Aristotle: An ancient Greek philosopher whose works shaped Western philosophy, science, and literary theory. His texts became subjects of extensive commentary in ancient and medieval intellectual traditions.
Paraphrase: A restatement of a passage's meaning in different words, usually preserving its basic content. Paraphrase restates a text, whereas commentary adds an argued interpretation of how it works or what it means.
Exegesis: Critical interpretation of a text, especially one that explains its meaning and context. Exegesis names a major tradition of sustained textual explanation.
Biblical exegesis: Interpretation of biblical texts using linguistic, historical, literary, and theological methods. Biblical exegesis shows how commentary can connect close textual analysis with religious traditions.
Porphyry: A third-century Neoplatonist philosopher and commentator on Plato and Aristotle. His introductory work on Aristotle helped establish influential practices of philosophical exposition.
Summary: A concise account of a text's main points or events. Summary compresses content without necessarily explaining its wording, reasoning, or significance.
Hermeneutics: The theory and practice of interpreting texts, actions, and other meaningful expressions. It supplies broader theories of how commentary produces and justifies interpretations.
Legal commentary: Explanation and analysis of statutes, judicial decisions, or other legal texts. Legal commentators interpret wording, precedent, and the consequences of competing readings.