Genre analysis is essential for understanding the complexities of writing research article abstracts (RAAs) across various fields. Although RAAs have received significant attention, little is known about the rhetorical moves in English Literature Research Article abstracts (ELRAAs). To address this gap, we conducted a move (M) structure analysis of 336 ELRAAs published in four top peer-reviewed international journals: Critique, Mosaic, New Literary History (NLH), and Review of English Studies (RES), published between 2012 and 2021, utilizing Hyland's (2000) Five-Move Analysis model: Introduction, Purpose, Method, Product, and Conclusion. The findings indicated that ELRAAs predominantly adhered to a three-move model, with M2 (Purpose), M4 (Product), and M1 (Introduction) being the most frequently used. M3 (Method) and M5 (Conclusion) were deemed optional. Additionally, the diachronic analysis revealed two distinct periods: early (2012-2016) and late (2017-2021). While M1, M2, and M4 increased in both periods, M3 remained underutilized, and M5 showed slight growth later. These insights may assist early-career and non-native researchers, as well as English Literature students.