1 Defining “Literature”

Foundational Context

“Literature,” in its broadest sense, is any written work. Etymologically, the term derives from Latin litaritura/litteratura “writing formed with letters,” although some definitions include spoken or sung texts. More restrictively, it is writing that possesses literary merit. Literature can be classified according to whether it is fiction or non-fiction and whether it is poetry or prose. It can be further distinguished according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama, and works are often categorized according to historical periods or their adherence to certain aesthetic features or expectations (form and genre).

Taken to mean only written works, literature was first produced by some of the world’s earliest civilizations—those of Ancient Egypt and Sumeria—as early as the 4th millennium BC; taken to include spoken or sung texts, it originated even earlier, and some of the first written works may have been based on a pre-existing oral tradition. As urban cultures and societies developed, there was a proliferation in the forms of literature. Developments in print technology allowed for literature to be distributed and experienced on an unprecedented scale, which has culminated in the twenty-first century in electronic literature.

Definitions of literature have varied over time. In Western Europe prior to the eighteenth century, literature as a term indicated all books and writing. A more restricted sense of the term emerged during the Romantic period, in which it began to demarcate “imaginative” literature.

Contemporary debates over what constitutes literature can be seen as returning to the older, more inclusive notion of what constitutes literature. Cultural studies, for instance, takes as its subject of analysis both popular and minority genres, in addition to “canonical” works.

What Constitutes “Literature”?

In order for us to study literature with any kind of depth, first we must decide what constitutes literature. While works like The Grapes of Wrath or The Great Gatsby or Catch-22 and To Kill a Mockingbird are almost universally accepted as literature, other works are hotly debated, or included or excluded based on the context. For example, while most consider Toni Morrison’ Beloved literature, others debate whether more recent publications such as David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas or Rupi Kaur’s Instagram poetry constitute literature. And what about the stories told through tweets, like Jennifer Egan’s “Black Box”? What about the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar or Lana Del Rey? What about video games, like Fallout: New Vegas or Disco Elysium? What about memes?

People often throw their hands up in the air over such distinctions, arguing literature is subjective. Isn’t it up to individual opinion? Anything can be literature; both experts and non-experts argue this.

At first glance, it could seem such distinctions are, at best, arbitrary. At worst, such definitions function as a means of enforcing cultural erasure.

However, consider a story about Kim Kardashian’s plastic surgery in People Magazine. Can this be considered on the same level of literary achievement as To Kill a Mockingbird? Most would concede there is a difference in quality and significance between these two texts. A blurb about Kim Kardashian’s latest plastic surgery, most would agree, does not constitute literature. So how can we differentiate between such works?

Literature Is Art, but with Words

While the artist uses different colors, paintbrushes, mediums, canvases, and techniques, the writer uses different forms and literary techniques called literary devices. Just like different types of paint, paintbrushes, and artistic tools, there are literally hundreds of literary devices, but some of the most common are metaphor, simile, personification, and imagery.

Form (sometimes referred to as “genre”) is the type of literature, and each form has its own conventions. Literary forms include creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry. Works that are literary tend to masterfully use conventions and literary devices to create a world in the mind of the reader. Works that are less literary tend to be for practical and/or entertainment purposes, and the writer dedicates less focused energy towards artfully employing literary devices. However, just because a work is not as literary as another does not mean it cannot be enjoyed. Just like a stick figure or cartoon character might be perfectly fine if intended for a particular audience or purpose, readers can still enjoy People Magazine even though it is not of the same literary quality as The Great Gatsby.

Let’s say you conclude that a video game, a gossip magazine, or the Twilight series is not literary. Does that mean you have to feel guilty and give up reading it forever? Or that it is not “good”? No.

Just because a work is not literary doesn’t mean it is “bad,” has no value, or can’t be enjoyed. Indeed, there are plenty of examples of written works that are on the less literary side of the spectrum but are still fun and enriching to read.

One might want to view this like food. Some foods are nutrient-dense, like apples, and some foods are not nutrient-dense, like a candy bar. But both are fuel sources, and both are usually accessible, and both can be found in a basic food plan for any human; the same goes for literature.