Literature Definition

What is Literature?

Anything that can be written down and read is termed Literature. Literature can be in written form as well as oral form. Literature comes from the Latin word 'Literatura,' which means 'something formed with letters.' Literature is a work of art that includes famous works of poetry and prose by various famous authors and poets. Literature can be categorized based on geographical regions, such as 'Indian Literature,' 'Western Literature,' or 'African Literature' or it can be categorized based on the languages, such as 'Hindi Literature,' 'English Literature,' 'Latin Literature,' 'Arabic Literature,' etc.

Importance of Literature

• From ancient times, Literature played an important role in understanding the culture and norms of a society. Through Literature, we get a peek into history. Even if the Literature is fictional, it gives us a wide perspective of the societies and cultures that prevailed when it was composed. The best literary works have been written by many different authors over time, usually after being inspired by earlier literary works. For example, the literary works written at the time of the Mughals are a rich source of knowledge on the society and cultures of that time.
• Literature is a rich source of knowledge, and reading it broadens our critical thinking. It widens our perspective toward various cultures and societies. It increases our knowledge about human feelings and emotions. Literature can develop a feeling of empathy in us.
• Literature helps us think beyond our imagination. Reading words from a book allows us to create and extend our imaginations. It promotes our creative as well as critical thinking.
• Reading literary works helps us to improve our vocabulary. Literary works are a rich source of knowledge for somebody learning a new language. For example, if you want to learn Sanskrit, there is nothing better than Sanskrit literature to improve your skills.

Kinds of Literature

1. Oral Literature: Oral Literature is the form of Literature that was originally verbally given to society without any written forms. It includes literary works such as myths, songs, poems, folktales, rhymes, etc. Myth is the main key of Oral Literature and is characterized by gods and supernatural beings.
2. Written Literature: Written Literature is the form of Literature that has written records. It includes autobiographies, biographies, drama, poetry, prose, science fiction, etc. Some famous examples of Written Literature are:

• Akbarnama-the biography of the famous Mughal Emperor, Akbar, written by Abul Fazl.
• Mahabharata written by Vyasa
• Ramayana written by Valmiki.

Types of Literature

There are three main types of Literature, and they are:

1. Prose
2. Poetry
3. Drama

1. Prose: Prose is a type of written work that follows normal patterns found in everyday speech. It can be considered the most common form of writing. It is of two main types:

• Fictional Prose: A literary work of fiction is termed Fictional Prose. It describes an imaginative story. Short stories, novels, essays, etc., are examples of fictional prose. Fictional prose consists of characters, plot, setting, and drama?for example, Harry Potter, Romeo and Juliet, etc.
• Non-Fictional Prose: Prose that is based on true stories and facts is known as non-fictional prose. It is generally related to real-life issues. Biographies, autobiographies, articles, memoirs, etc., are some types of non-fictional prose?for example, the biography of Akbar- Akbar Nama.

2. Poetry: Poetry is a form of Literature that is written in verse or rhythmic or metrical verse to stir the emotions and imaginations of the reader or listener. The poet combines rhythm, word choice, sounds, rhymes, structure, and more to provide an impactful poem to the readers. A poem is generally based on a specific topic, such as love, nature, god, friendship, etc., and gives its readers a specific message. Vedas written in Hindu scriptures are a good example of poetry.

3. Drama: Drama is a form of Literature consisting of prose and verses. Its main purpose is to be performed in front of an audience. This type of writing is written in the form of a script, and the story is told through the lines of the characters played by actors. Drama can be of different genres such as romance, comedy, tragedy, etc. Television shows, movies or web-series we watch are some examples of Drama.

Some famous Literature based on languages

1. Sanskrit Literature: Sanskrit Literature consists of all the literary works in the Sanskrit Language. Sanskrit Literature gives us a peek into the Vedic Period. It is a rich source of knowledge on the cultures and societies of the Vedic Period. It also gives us detailed information about Hinduism.

The two most famous works of Sanskrit Literature are the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

1. Ramayana: Composed by Maharishi Valmiki, Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic that describes the life and story of Lord Rama (king of Ayodhya). It is known to be one of the largest literary works from ancient times. Later many great scholars translated this Sanskrit epic into various languages such as Indonesian, Lao, Burmese, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, etc.
2. Mahabharata: This is another major work in Sanskrit Literature. Composed by Vyasa, this epic describes the story of two groups of cousins (Pandavas and Kauravas) fighting for the throne of Hastinapur. It also contains philosophical aspects of life in the 700-verse scripture, Bhagavad-Gita. Mahabharata is known to be the longest poem ever written.

Other popular Sanskrit literary work includes Bhagavad-Gita, the four Vedas, the Upanishads, and numerous poems by Kalidasa.

2. English Literature: English Literature consists of the most famous literary works written since ancient times. William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, etc., are some of the most famous English authors of all time. English Literature is a vast topic in itself as it includes works of various famous playwrights, poets, authors, novelists, story writers, etc.

Here is a brief description of some of the world's most famous English authors of all time.

1. William Shakespeare: An English playwright, poet, and actor, William Shakespeare is one of the most famous and greatest English writers of all time. English Literature is incomplete without mentioning his name. His plays are still performed on stage all over India, and his great works are the source of English Literature in many schools and colleges. Some of his most famous works include Macbeth, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Sonnets, The Tempest, etc.
2. Charles Dickens: Charles Dickens is also one of the most famous English authors of all time, and his works are still used as a source of inspiration by many authors. Some famous works of Charles Dickens include Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, Hard Times, etc.
3. Jane Austen: Majorly known for her six major novels, Jane Austen was a famous novelist. Her six most famous novels include Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park.

3. Hindi Literature: Hindi Literature consists of all the works written in Hindi since ancient times. It comprises various genres such as Hindi Kavita (Poetry), Hindi playwriting, Hindi essays, Vyangya (Hindi Satire), etc. Some prominent Hindi authors include Tulsidas, Kabir, Surdas, Mirabai, Munshi Premchand, etc.

Some prominent authors of Hindi Literature:

1. Munshi Premchand: One of the most celebrated Hindi authors of the 20th century, Munshi Premchand is known for his Hindustani Literature. Some of his famous works include Godaan, Pratigya, Idgah, Nirmala, Gaban, etc.
2. Tulsidas: Hindu saint and poet Tulsidas was a devotee of Lord Rama. His most famous work is known to be Hanuman Chalisa. He is also known to be the author of the great epic, the Ramcharitmanas. His other major works include Dohavali, Kavitavali, Gitavali, Krishnavali, and Vinaya Patrika.
3. Kabir: Kabir was a mystic poet and a saint of the 15th century. His writings were the reason that influenced the famous Bhakti Movement, as he believed in a formless God. Kabir wrote 25 Dohas that cover various aspects of life. He wanted people to believe in one God and unite all religions. His other contributions include Kabir Bijak, Kabir Parachai, Sakhi Granth, Adi Granth, and Kabir Granthawali.

Conclusion

Literature is anything available in written form that can be spoken. Literature can be written as well as oral. There are different types of Literature based on languages such as English Literature, Hindi Literature, Sanskrit Literature, etc. Literature is of great importance as it gives us a peek into history. Reading Literature improves our vocabulary and increases our critical thinking and imagination.