Defining Literature and Its Forms

Defining Literature

• Literature, broadly, encompasses any written work.
• Historically, in Western Europe before the 18th century, literature encompassed all books and writings.
• The Romantic period marked a shift, where literature became more specifically defined as "imaginative" literature.
• The term 'literature' derives from the Latin litaritura/litteratura, meaning "writing formed with letters."
• Some definitions also include spoken or sung texts.

Prose vs Poetry

• Prose utilizes ordinary syntax and natural speech, lacking rhythmic structure.
• Prose is measured in sentences, while poetry is measured in lines.
• Poetry uses aesthetic qualities of language and rhythm to evoke meanings, sometimes in addition to, or instead of, literal meaning.

Masterpiece Definition

• A masterpiece is a creative work that has received significant critical acclaim, often considered the finest example of its kind.
• It demonstrates outstanding creativity, skill, and workmanship.

Function of Reading

• "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies... The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin
• Reading expands one's experiences and understanding, essentially allowing one to "live" many lives.

Contemporary Literary Definitions

• Contemporary debates about literature are moving towards a broader, more inclusive understanding than previously held.
• Cultural studies, for example, analyze popular and minority genres alongside canonical works, broadening the scope of what is considered literature.

Origins of Literature

• Written literature emerged in ancient civilizations, like Egypt and Sumeria, as early as the 4th millennium BCE.
• Some early works were based on pre-existing oral traditions.
• Literature can also include spoken or sung texts, predating written forms.

Categorizing Literature

• Literature can be categorized by historical periods or by adhering to certain aesthetic or expected features (genre).
• Examples of major forms include novels, short stories, and plays (drama).

Methods of Reading Literature

• Various strategies are used to fully engage with literary works, including, summarizing, evaluating, explaining the text, discussing various interpretations, scanning, skimming, previewing, critical thinking, and assessing the context.