Definition of Literature

lit·er·a·ture

noun \ˈli-tə-rə-ˌchu̇r, ˈli-trə-ˌchu̇r, ˈli-tə(r)-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r\

1

archaic :  literary culture

2

:  the production of literary work especially as an occupation

3

a (1) :  writings in prose or verse; especially :  writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest (2) :  an example of such writings <what came out, though rarely literature, was always a roaring good story — People>

b :  the body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age

c :  the body of writings on a particular subject <scientific literature>

d :  printed matter (as leaflets or circulars) <campaign literature>

4

:  the aggregate of a usually specified type of musical compositions

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Literature comes from the Latin word “LITERA” which literally means an acquaintance with letters. It is a body of literary productions, either oral, written or visual, containing imaginative language that realistically portrays thoughts, emotions, and experiences of the human condition.

Literature is a product of particular culture that concertizes man’s array of values, emotions, actions and ideas. It is therefore a creation of human experience that tells about people and their world.

Literature is an art that reflects the works of imagination, aesthetics, and creative writing which are distinguished for the beauty of style or expression as in fiction, poetry, essay, drama, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge.

From Literatures of the World