In literary analysis, what should a thesis statement encompass?

A thesis statement should succinctly encompass the key points that will be discussed in the essay. This means it serves as a roadmap for the reader, outlining the main arguments or ideas that will be explored in greater detail throughout the text. A well-crafted thesis statement not only provides a clear focus for the writer's analysis but also helps the reader understand the purpose of the essay from the outset.

Focusing solely on the author's biography would limit the depth of analysis to external factors rather than the text itself, which doesn't fulfill the primary role of a thesis statement in literary analysis. Including the entire storyline would make the thesis unwieldy and detract from the analytical focus, as it would involve summarizing rather than analyzing. Lastly, while genre classification can provide important context for understanding a text, a thesis statement is more concerned with establishing specific arguments or interpretations rather than merely categorizing the work. Thus, option C is the most effective choice for the purpose of crafting a focused and argumentative thesis statement.