Literature

Main thing

Literature is a form of human expression that uses language to communicate ideas, emotions, and experiences. It comes in two forms: oral and written. Oral literature includes stories, poems, chants, and songs that are spoken or sung. Written literature, on the other hand, includes texts that are written down. Literature encompasses various genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction. Fiction involves stories created from the imagination, while non-fiction is based on facts, real events, and real people, aiming to inform or explain a wide range of subjects.

For example, the novel 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen is a piece of literature. It is a work of fiction that uses language to explore themes of love, marriage, and social class in the early 19th century England.

Terminology

• Literature – It's a form of human expression that uses language to communicate ideas, emotions, and experiences. Example: '1984' by George Orwell.

• Oral Literature – It includes stories, poems, chants, and songs that are spoken or sung. Example: The Iliad and the Odyssey, epic poems from ancient Greece.

• Written Literature – It includes texts that are written down. Example: 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen.

• Fiction – It involves stories created from the imagination. Example: 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien.

• Non-fiction – It is based on facts, real events, and real people, aiming to inform or explain a wide range of subjects. Example: 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank.

An analogy

Understanding literature is like having the ability to time travel or read minds. When you read a historical novel, it's as if you've been transported back in time, experiencing the events, culture, and people of a bygone era. When you read a character's thoughts and feelings in a novel, it's like being able to read minds, gaining insight into their innermost thoughts and emotions.

A main misconception

A common misconception about literature is that it only includes high-brow, complex works that are difficult to understand. In reality, literature encompasses a wide range of works, from simple children's stories to complex philosophical texts.

Example: People often think that comic books or graphic novels are not literature, but works like 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman have been recognized for their literary merit.

The history

1. The origins of literature can be traced back to the oral traditions of ancient cultures. Epic poems, myths, and legends were passed down from generation to generation through spoken word, long before they were ever written down.

2. The advent of written language marked a significant development in the history of literature. The earliest known written literature dates back to 2100 BC in ancient Sumer, with works like the Epic of Gilgamesh.

3. During the Middle Ages, literature evolved with the use of vernacular language, and genres like poetry, drama, and romance flourished. This period also saw the emergence of iconic works like Dante's 'Divine Comedy' and Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'.

4. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized literature, making books more accessible to the general public. This led to a surge in literacy rates and the spread of ideas, marking the beginning of the modern era of literature.

5. The 19th century was marked by the rise of the novel as a popular form of literature, with authors like Charles Dickens and Jane Austen gaining widespread acclaim.

6. In the 20th century, literature saw an explosion of different styles and movements, such as modernism and postmodernism, with writers like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf pushing the boundaries of literary form and content.

7. The 21st century has seen the continued evolution of literature, with the rise of digital literature and the increasing influence of global literature on the world stage.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. Reading literature for pleasure: Many people enjoy reading novels, short stories, or poetry as a form of relaxation and entertainment. For example, reading 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien for its epic fantasy adventure.

2. Using literature for education: Literature is often used in schools to teach language, cultural, and critical thinking skills. For example, studying 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee to learn about racial injustice.

3. Literature in professional settings: In fields like advertising or scriptwriting, understanding literary techniques can be useful. For example, using metaphor or storytelling in an advertising campaign.

Interesting facts

• The longest novel ever written is 'Remembrance of Things Past' by Marcel Proust, with over 1.2 million words.

• The Epic of Gilgamesh, written in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 2100 BC, is often considered the world's first piece of literature.

• Shakespeare, one of the most famous writers in English literature, invented over 1700 words that we still use today, including 'assassination' and 'lonely'.

• 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes, published in 1605, is often cited as the first modern novel.

• The best-selling book of non-fiction is 'The Guinness Book of World Records', with over 100 million copies sold in 100 different countries.