"Psychoanalytic literary interpretation" is a description of the application of the principles of psychoanalysis to literature and literary interpretation. It is a basic part of literary theory.

A psychoanalytic literary interpretation is heavily influenced by the theories of Freud and Jung. Much attention is paid to the differing roles of the conscious and unconscious mind. Characters in a work (and even the author) might be examined in terms of their perversions, fantasies, fears, aspirations, and dreams.

Examples of psychoanalytic literary interpretation: