In its broadest sense, literature means any written work. The term 'literature' is derived from the Latin word litaritura/litteratura “writing formed with letters". Literature can be defined as the written work of a specific culture, subculture, religion, philosophy or the study of such written work which may appear in poetry or in prose.
In the west, literature originated in ancient Mesopotamia, flourished in Egypt, later in Greece, and from there, to Rome. Writing seems to have originated independently in China from religious practices, and independently in Mesoamerica and other parts of the world.
Literature is a form of human expression. However, not everything that is written down qualifies as literature. Most critics exclude informative forms of writing like those that are technical, scholarly, and journalistic in nature.
There are three main forms of literature - poetry, prose, and drama.
1. Poetry - It uses the aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of a language to evoke emotions and meaning, apart from the intended meaning of the words. Traditionally, poetry is distinguished from prose, in being written as a verse while prose contains paragraphs, which includes a number of sentences, that have an implied message or idea.
2. Prose - It consists of writing that does not adhere to any particular formal structures (other than simple grammar); "non-poetic writing," writing, perhaps. It says something without necessarily trying to say it in a beautiful way, or using beautiful words. Prose writing can of course take beautiful form; but less by virtue of the formal features of words (rhymes, alliteration, meter) but rather by style, placement, or inclusion of graphics.
Some other common forms of prose are essays and non-fiction.
Essays
An essay consists of a discussion of a topic from an author's personal point of view, exemplified by works by Francis Bacon or by Charles Lamb. The word 'essay' in English derives from the French "essai" meaning 'attempt'. We can find open-ended, provocative, and inconclusive essays. The term "essays" was first applied to the self-reflective writings of Michel de Montaigne, a significant philosopher of the French Renaissance.
Genres related to the essays may include:
Nonfiction - It is literature based on facts. It is a form of literature that is based on true events and information. Encyclopedias, how-to manuals and biographies are all considered nonfiction.
| Prose | Poetry |
| Most everyday writing is in prose form. | Poetry is typically reserved for expressing something special in an artistic way. |
| The language of prose is typically straightforward without much decoration. | The language of poetry tends to be more expressive or decorated, with comparisons, rhyme, and rhythm contributing to a different sound and feel. |
| Ideas are contained in sentences that are arranged into paragraphs. | Ideas are contained in lines that may or may not be in sentences. Lines are arranged in stanzas. |
| Prose looks like large blocks of words. | The shape of poetry can vary depending on line length and the intent of the poet. |
3. Drama - It is literature intended for performance. It generally comprises dialog between characters and usually aims at dramatic/theatrical performance rather than at reading. During the 18th and 19th centuries, opera developed as a combination of poetry, drama, and music.
The most renowned author of drama was William Shakespeare—the writer of Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet.
While artist uses different colors, paintbrushes, canvases, mediums, and techniques, the writer uses different genres and literary techniques called 'literary devices'. Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in a text, strengthen the narrative, and help readers connect to the characters and themes. There are hundreds of literary devices, but some of the most common are:
| metaphors | describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison | Life is a rollercoaster |
| similes | compares two things in an interesting and vivid way. Words such as “like” and “as” are used to compare the two subjects | She is like an angel |
| personification | an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human | Lightning danced across the sky |
| imagery | allows writers to paint pictures in readers' minds so they can more easily imagine a story's situations, characters, emotions, and settings | The kitten's fur is milky |
Works that are literary tend to masterfully use genre conventions and literary devices to create a world in the mind of the reader. Works that are less literary tend to be for practical and/or entertainment purposes, and the writer dedicates less focused energy towards artfully employing literary devices.
However, just because a work is not as literary as another does not mean it cannot be enjoyed. For example, Hamlet, the popular play written by William Shakespeare is of very high literary quality. Even though something like a story written in a lifestyle magazine or an essay written on a website isn't of high literary quality, these still hold value for a particular audience or purpose.
A literary critic is a person who studies and analyzes literature. A literary critic produces scholarship called literary criticism.
When a work is officially decided to constitute literature, it enters something called the Canon. The Literary Canon is a collection of works that are considered by the powers that be to constitute literature. A work that falls into this designation is called canonical.
Take the 19th century American literature course, for instance. One is being exposed to a version of a group of texts that has, through one means or another, been established as representative of the essential authors, movements, and historical events in America during the 1800s.
Through the course of education, when one is asked to read any novel, essay, poem, or some other sort of text, it is because a teacher or some other entity decided the text should be canonized. Canons, then, can be understood as value-determining lists that are ingrained in our education system, perhaps unavoidably so. However, the political process of deciding what makes it into a given canon and what does not has long been a topic of scrutiny and debate for scholars of all academic disciplines.
Literature is beautiful; it expands our minds. The important of literature and its impact on society is aptly described by these words of a British scholar and novelist, Carol Lewis: "Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.
Do you love to read or listen to stories or folktales? How do you feel when reading an interesting story? Does your mind get fully immersed into another person's dialog and experiences? Reading can take us into different realms and see other people’s creative thought processes. Literary works portray thinking patterns and social norms prevalent in society. They depict different facets of common man's life, and therefore serve as a food for thought and encourage imagination and creativity. Exposing oneself to good literary works is excellent educational opportunities that help one to learn and grow.
Books can take you anywhere and any place. Literature is a great way to connect to different regions, races, societies, and periods of time. They help us look closely at the facets of life different from our own. This can change our perspectives.
We gather a better understanding of lives at different times and have a greater appreciation of them. We learn through the ways history is recorded, in the forms of manuscripts, and through the speech itself. Literature is a reflection of humanity and a way for us to understand each other. By listening to the voice of another person we can begin to figure out how that individual thinks. Literature is important because of its purpose and in a society, which is becoming increasingly detached from human interaction, literature creates a conversation. Literature also functions more broadly in society as a means of both criticizing and affirming cultural values.
