- "Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form."
Literature is a vast range of written works that explore the human experience through storytelling and artistic expression.
Literary theory: Study of the principles that govern the formation of literature, interpretation, and criticism.
Literary criticism: Analysis of works of literature focusing mainly on the style, structure, themes, and cultural significance.
Comparative literature: Study of the literary works from different cultures and languages to explore common themes and traditions.
Literary and cultural studies: The exploration of the intersection between literature and culture, including gender, race, ethnicity, and class.
Renaissance literature: Study of literature written during the European Renaissance (14th-17th centuries).
Gothic literature: The examination of literature with dark and supernatural themes, which began in the late 18th century.
Children's literature: Study of literature aimed at children, including the development of picture books and young adult novels.
Oral traditions and storytelling (literature): The study of traditional storytelling and oral literature.
Literary Disability Studies: The analysis of the representation of disability in literature.
Environmental literature: Exploration of literature that engages with ecological issues and environmental activism.
African American literature: Analysis of literature produced by African American writers, examining the cultural and historical impact of race and identity.
Fiction: Storytelling that involves imaginative or invented elements, such as characters, settings, and events.
Poetry: The use of language to express emotions, ideas, and experiences, often employing rhyme, rhythm, and imagery.
Drama (literary genre): A form of literature intended to be performed by actors, often involving conflict, dialogue, and action.
Nonfiction: Literary works that are based on facts and real events, such as biography, autobiography, journalism, and history.
Epic (literary genre): A long, narrative poem that celebrates heroic deeds, typically featuring gods or heroes in ancient mythology or history.
Novel: Extended prose narrative that tells a complex story with well-developed characters, settings, and themes.
Short Story: Concise, fictional prose narrative that usually focuses on a single event, character or incident.
Satire (literary genre): A literary work that uses humor, irony, and mockery to criticize and expose human vices, follies, and shortcomings.
Memoir: A written account of personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions, often focusing on a specific period or event in the author's life.
Romance (literary genre): A medieval genre of literature that typically portrays chivalric love and adventure, often involving knights and damsels in distress.
Tragedy (literary genre): A serious work of drama that depicts the downfall or misfortune of the main character, usually due to a fatal flaw or external circumstance.
Comedy (literary genre): A genre of literature that seeks to entertain and amuse through humor and wit, often involving farcical situations and characters.
Horror (literary genre): A genre of literature that seeks to provoke fear and terror in the reader through the use of supernatural or psychological menace.
Literary genres: Categorization of creative works of literature according to their style and purpose, which includes poetry, drama, fiction, non-fiction, and more.
Literary movements: Historical periods that changed the course of literary development from the Renaissance, Romanticism, and Modernism, to name a few.
Literary devices: A set of techniques used by writers to achieve a specific effect, including figurative language, imagery, metaphors, and similes.
Literary elements: Fundamental attributes of any literary work including plot, character, theme, point of view, setting, and tone.
Literary symbolism: Using symbols to represent ideas or qualities, often with deeper and implicit meanings that require analysis.
Literary analysis: A critical evaluation of the form, content, and style of a literary work, which often implies some research and interpretation.
Literary history: Studying the development of literature over time, analyzing the works of different periods and movements, and tracing their influences.
Literary classicism: Focuses on the principles, styles, and values of ancient Greek and Roman literature.
Literary Romanticism: A literary movement that stressed individualism and emotions, rejecting the academic rules of classical literature.
Literary realism: An approach that emphasizes the depiction of ordinary people and places in a realistic way, often focusing on the nature of human experience.
Literary modernism: An artistic and literary movement characterized by experimentation, fragmentation, and challenges to traditional values.
Postcolonial literature: Analyzes authors from former colonies, considering their works within cultural, political, and social contexts.
Feminist literature: Examines female perspectives and experiences, including gender roles, sexuality, and women’s rights.
Queer literature: Examining sexuality, gender identity, and expression within literary works and authors.
Children's literature: Writing for young people, addressing themes such as emotional and social problems, ethics, character, and history.
Science fiction and fantasy literature: Imaginative literature that depicts theoretical or imaginative scenarios, often including elements of the supernatural or futuristic technology.
- "especially prose fiction, drama, poetry, and including both print and digital writing."
- "In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include oral literature, also known as orature, much of which has been transcribed."
- "biography, diaries, memoir, letters, and essays."
- "Etymologically, the term derives from Latin literatura/litteratura 'learning, a writing, grammar,' originally 'writing formed with letters,' from litera/littera 'letter'."
- "In spite of this, the term has also been applied to spoken or sung texts."
- "Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment, and can also have a social, psychological, spiritual, or political role."
- "Literature is often referred to synecdochically as 'writing', especially creative writing, and poetically as 'the craft of writing' (or simply 'the craft')."
- "Syd Field described his discipline, screenwriting, as 'a craft that occasionally rises to the level of art.'"
- "Developments in print technology have allowed an ever-growing distribution and proliferation of written works, which now include electronic literature." Please note that this paragraph does not have specific quotes for each question, so I have provided the relevant sections as answers instead.