literature

Literature refers to written works considered to have artistic, cultural, or intellectual value. It encompasses poetry, prose, drama, and some non-fiction, and it exists in many languages and traditions. Literature is produced in printed form, but also in digital formats and oral transcriptions that have become codified as text. It uses language, form, and imagery to convey meaning, evoke emotion, and explore human experiences, values, and ideas.

Literary works can be fictional or factual, imaginative or analytical, and they are often studied for their craft, themes, and historical context. They interact with other arts and fields such as philosophy, history, and journalism, and they may participate in ongoing conversations about identity, power, society, and ethics. Genres include poetry, narrative fiction, drama, and essays, though boundaries between genres are frequently porous and evolving.

Historically, literature has its roots in oral storytelling and ancient written texts. Classical civilizations produced epics and treatises; the medieval period combined religious and courtly literature; the early modern era saw literacy, print culture, and new forms of prose; the long nineteenth century contributed the modern novel and widespread journalism; the twentieth century introduced modernist and postmodern experimentation, while contemporary literature engages global perspectives and digital media.

Scholars study literature through criticism, theory, and comparative approaches that examine form, language, and context. The discipline encompasses philology, formalism, historicism, feminism, postcolonial theory, and translation studies. Literature informs and records culture, shapes collective memory, and serves educational and civic functions, while remaining a field of ongoing debate about representation, authority, and the interpretation of texts.