Which method of analyzing a literary work aligns best with a psychoanalytic approach?

The psychoanalytic approach to literature focuses on the exploration of the unconscious mind, emotional conflicts, and the psychological motivations behind characters' behaviors and narrative structures. This method often involves delving into symbols and themes that reflect deeper emotional states or psychological issues, such as repression, anxiety, and desire.

Interpreting symbolic representations of emotional repression aligns perfectly with this approach because it allows for an analysis of how underlying psychological conflicts manifest in the text. For instance, symbols within the work might represent characters' struggles with their own emotions, traumas, or desires that they cannot openly acknowledge. By identifying these symbols, readers can gain insight into the characters' inner lives and the broader human experiences the author may be reflecting.

The other methods listed do not primarily focus on psychological interpretations. While comparing thematic treatments or analyzing syntactic patterns may offer valuable insights into the text and its context, they do not engage directly with the psychological underpinnings that a psychoanalytic approach seeks to uncover. Similarly, examining an author's creative process pertains more to biographical or historical contexts than to the text's psychological dimensions. Therefore, analyzing symbolic representations of emotional repression is the most fitting method aligned with the psychoanalytic perspective.