"Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, poetry, and including both print and digital writing."
Fictional writing that does not follow the structure of verse and often deals with realistic characters and situations.
Renaissance literature: An overview of the literature produced during the Renaissance era, which flourished in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century.
Prose fiction: A type of literature that is written in sentences and paragraphs, rather than in verse (like poetry).
Humanism: A philosophical and cultural movement during the Renaissance that focused on individualism, reason, and classical studies.
Fictional genres: Literary categories that describe the type of story being told, such as romance, adventure, mystery, or satire.
Narrative techniques: The various methods used by authors to tell a story, including point of view, narrative structure, dialogue, and description.
Characterization: The process by which authors create and develop characters, including their personalities, motivations, and conflicts.
Historical context: The social, political, and cultural conditions of the time period in which a work of literature was written, which can influence its themes and styles.
Gender roles: The expectations and stereotypes associated with masculinity and femininity, which can be reflected in literature.
Satire: A type of writing that uses humor, irony, and mockery to criticize human behavior and institutions.
Parody: A type of comedy that imitates the style or genre of another work, often for humorous effect.
Plots and subplots: The main events of a story, as well as the smaller, related stories that may be interwoven with it.
Symbolism: The use of objects, characters, or actions to represent abstract ideas, values, or emotions.
Language and diction: The choice of words, tone, and style used by an author, which can affect the meaning and impact of a work.
Allusions: References to other works of literature, mythology, history, or culture, which can add depth and meaning to a text.
Themes: The main ideas or messages conveyed by a work of literature, which can reflect universal human experiences and values.
Novella: A shorter novel that focuses on a single plot with fewer characters.
Romance: Typically involves a heroic adventure or a knight's quest for love and honor.
Picaresque: A type of novel that follows the adventures of a roguish protagonist who moves from one social level to another.
Gothic: Characterized by supernatural, eerie, and mysterious elements, and often set in a castle or old mansion.
Historical fiction: A genre that mixes real historical events with fictional characters and plots.
Satirical: A type of fiction that aims to expose and criticize the flaws of society, politics, or morals.
Science fiction: Often set in the future or in a different world, focused on scientific or technological advancements.
Bildungsroman: A coming-of-age story that follows the development of a protagonist from childhood through adolescence into adulthood.
Epistolary: A narrative told through letters or journal entries written by the characters.
Realistic fiction: A type of fiction that depicts ordinary people in ordinary situations, often focusing on characters' internal thoughts and emotions.
"Literature, as an art form, can also include works in various non-fiction genres, such as biography, diaries, memoir, letters, and essays."
"In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include oral literature, also known as orature, much of which has been transcribed."
"Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment, and can also have a social, psychological, spiritual, or political role."
"The term derives from Latin literatura/litteratura 'learning, a writing, grammar,' originally 'writing formed with letters,' from litera/littera 'letter'."
"Within its broad definition, literature includes non-fictional books, articles or other written information on a particular subject."
"Developments in print technology have allowed an ever-growing distribution and proliferation of written works, which now include electronic literature."
"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.'"
"It [literature] is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form."
"Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment."
"Which now include electronic literature."
"Much of which has been transcribed [referring to oral literature or orature]."
"Within its broad definition."
"Also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, poetry, and including both print and digital writing."
"Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment, and can also have a social, psychological, spiritual, or political role."
"The term derives from Latin literatura/litteratura 'learning, a writing, grammar,' originally 'writing formed with letters,' from litera/littera 'letter'."
"Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment."
"Works in various non-fiction genres, such as biography, diaries, memoir, letters, and essays."
"A craft that occasionally rises to the level of art."