WHAT IS LITERATURE?

 WHAT IS LITERATURE?

INTRODUCTION:

Literature is as old as human civilization. In the most ancient times, man used to sing songs in bands or groups and dance for the sake of entertainment. Those ancient dance songs are referred to as ‘Oral Literature’. But written literature in its truest sense came into existence much later.

We as the students of literature know what literature is, but for most of us it is difficult to define and put the term ‘Literature’ into watertight compartment. Let’s try to understand different definitions of literature.

DEFINITION OF ‘LITERATURE’ IN GENERAL:

The term ‘Literature’ is derived from the Latin word ‘littera’ which means “a letter of the alphabet.” So, we may say that everything which is written is called literature. Textbooks, magazines, newspapers, time-tables, medical reports, dictionaries etc are all in written form and they all may be termed as literature. If you buy a car, you will be given a Manual of Instruction about it. That is literature. If you are a student of engineering, you will be given some books on engineering. These books too are called literature. Thus, we may say that all written materials like books, magazines, dictionaries, medical reports, dictionaries novels, plays, short stories and so on are literatures.

DEFINITIONS OF ‘LITERATURE’ IN PARTICULAR:

Above general definition of literature (“Everything written is called literature”) poses a big question before the students of literature. Are we to study newspapers and magazines? Are we to study brochures and dictionaries? No.

Hence, we need to understand some serious definitions of “Imaginative Literature” which we as the students of English literature are supposed to study.

1.   “Literature is the reflection of life and society.”

W. H. Hudson has distinguished literature into two types – literature of knowledge and literature of power. The literature which gives us power and energy or fuel to live our life in a better way is called literature of power. The author observes the life and society in which he lives and presents this life and society in his works. Hence, his works – novel, poetry, drama – are the reflections (images) of life and society.

2.  “Literature is the criticism of life.”

Matthew Arnold, a Victorian critic believes that the author presents his own comments or observations about human life and human nature. His view of life is known as criticism of life. Hence, literature - drama, novel or short story - is called “the criticism of life”.

3.   “Literature means artistic words, especially those with a high lasting artistic value”

Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines literature as “artistic words” having “artistic value”. It means that the authors are the artists who used some special artistic devices to express their ideas and emotions in the most effective manner. He uses words in such a manner that the readers not only receive the authors thoughts seriously but they also get pleasure as this literature has artistic value. Art leads to delight and literature is a kind of art which teaches as well as entertains.

CONCLUSION:

Thus, we may conclude by saying that everything written is called literature. But for a serious student of literature, it is a window to the world, to human nature. The authors of literature try to give a picture of human life, human nature and human society in an artistic manner. They express their own view or philosophy of life with the help of their imagination. True literature is imaginative as well as realistic. It delights and conveys some serious messages to the reader.