From Wikipidea Literature (from Latin litterae (plural); letter) is the art of written works, and is not bound

to published sources (although, under circumstances unpublished sources can be exempt). The word literature literally means "acquaintance with letters" and the pars pro toto term "letters" is sometimes used to signify "literature," as in the figures of speech "arts and letters" and "man of letters." The two major classifications of literature are poetry and prose."Literature" is differentiated from popular and ephemeral classes of writing. Terms such as "literary fiction" and "literary merit" are used to distinguish individual works as artliterature rather than vernacular writing, and some critics exclude works from being "literary", for example, on grounds of weak or faulty style, use of slang, poor characterization and shallow or contrived construction. Others exclude all genres such as romance, crime and mystery, science fiction, horror and fantasy. Pop lyrics, which are not technically a written medium at all, have also been drawn into this controversy. From Dictionary literature-noun 1.writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc.: the literature of England. 3.the writings dealing with a particular subject: the literature of ornithology. 4.the profession of a writer or author. World English Dictionary literature (ltrt, ltr-)

particular type or on a particular subject: scientific literature; the literature of the violin 4. printed material giving a particular type of information: sales literature the art or profession of a writer obsolete learning

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Jacques Derrida defines literature as "this strange institution which allows one to say everything". When asked about this, he said: "Let's make this clear. What we call literature (not belles-lettres or poetry) implies that license is given to the writer to say everything he wants to or everything he can, while remaining shielded, safe from all censorship, be it religious or political." Source(s): Jacques Derrida, "This Strange Institution Called Literature", in "Acts of Literature", ed. Derek Attridge. "Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become. - CS Lewis "Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree. - Ezra Pound Literature is the denunciation of the times in which one lives. - Camilo Jose Cela "A great literature is chiefly the product of inquiring minds in revolt against the immovable certainties of the nation." HL Mencken

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written material such as poetry, novels, essays, etc, esp works of imagination characterized by excellence of style and expression and by themes of general or enduring interest the body of written work of a particular culture or people: Scandinavian literature written or printed matter of a

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