Literature is a term used to describe written and sometimes spoken material that has imaginative, artistic, or intellectual value, typically characterized by the use of language to convey ideas, emotions, and experiences. It is a form of human expression that can take many different forms, including prose fiction, drama, poetry, and non-fiction genres such as biography, diaries, memoir, letters, and essays. Literature can be used to record, preserve, and transmit knowledge and entertainment, and can also have a social, psychological, spiritual, or political role.
The definition of literature has varied over time. In Western Europe, prior to the 18th century, literature denoted all books and writing. Today, the 11th edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary considers literature to be “writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest” . However, such definitions assume that the reader already knows what literature is.
Literary genres include creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry, and each genre has its own conventions. Literature can teach us about different cultures, historical periods, and human experiences. It can also serve as a means of entertainment and escapism from the realities of everyday life.
