Which among the following are true in the context of literary research?
A) It is devoted to the enlightenment of criticism
B) It seeks to illuminate the work of art as it really is
C) It has no connection with the proffered information
D) It tries to see the writer as s/he really was
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is A, B and D only.

To understand why this is the correct combination, let us break down each statement in the context of literary research:

A) It is devoted to the enlightenment of criticism:
Literary research provides the historical, biographical, and textual groundwork that informs and improves literary criticism. By discovering new facts, establishing authoritative texts, and contextualizing works, research directly enlightens and refines critical interpretations. Therefore, statement A is true.

B) It seeks to illuminate the work of art as it really is:
One of the primary objectives of literary research is to uncover the authentic state, original context, and intended meaning of a text. By doing so, it helps scholars and readers view the work of art objectively, stripping away historical distortions or misconceptions to see it as it truly is. Therefore, statement B is true.

C) It has no connection with the proffered information:
This statement is incorrect. Literary research is deeply dependent on and connected to proffered (presented or available) information, such as historical archives, manuscripts, letters, and previous scholarship. It validates, analyzes, and builds upon this information rather than having "no connection" to it. Therefore, statement C is false.

D) It tries to see the writer as s/he really was:
Biographical and historical literary research aims to reconstruct the author's life, motivations, intellectual environment, and creative process. Understanding the author as they actually were provides essential context for interpreting their literary output. Therefore, statement D is true.

Combining the true statements (A, B, and D) leads directly to the correct option: A, B and D only.