Here's a breakdown:
* Literary scholars is the broadest term and encompasses anyone who studies literature, regardless of their specific area of focus.
* Literary critics are scholars who analyze and evaluate literary works, often writing critical essays or reviews.
* Literary theorists focus on the theories and methodologies used to study literature, often exploring the relationship between text and reader, author and context, or the power dynamics within a work.
There are also other terms used for people who study literature depending on their specialization:
* Novelist - Someone who writes novels.
* Poet - Someone who writes poetry.
* Playwright - Someone who writes plays.
* Literary historian - Someone who studies the history of literature.
* Comparative literature scholar - Someone who studies literature across different cultures and languages.
It's important to note that these terms often overlap, and many scholars might identify with multiple categories.