Generally, most people have their
own ideas of what literature is. Most attempted definitions are broad and
vague, and they inevitably change over time.
In fact, the onlything that is certain about defining literature is
that the definition will change.
I have some definitions of literature.
1. From wikipedia, "Literature, in its broadest sense, is any
written work; etymologically the term derives from Latin literatura/litteratura
"writing formed with letters" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature )
2. Hendry
van Dyke, “Literature consists of those writing which in interpret the meanings
of nature and life, in words of charm and power, touched with the personality
of the author, in artistic forms of permanent interest” (https://www.scribd.com/doc/27042357/LITERATURE
)
3. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq
(Muslim Scholar and Philosopher), “Literature is the garment which one puts on what he says or writes so that
it may appear more attractive.” (http://www.scribd.com/doc/27042357/LITERATURE
)
4. Roman
Jakobson (Russian Formalist), “Literature is organized violence
committed on ordinary speech” (http://www.scribd.com/doc/27042357/LITERATURE
)
5. Ezra Pound, “Great literature is simply language charged with
meaning to the utmost possible degree.” (http://www.scribd.com/doc/27042357/LITERATURE)
6. E.M.
Forster, "What is wonderful about great literature is that it transforms
the man who reads it towards the condition of the man who wrote." (http://classiclit.about.com/od/basicsliteratureintro/a/aa_literaturequ.htm
)
7. C.S.
Lewis, "Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It
enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and
in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already
become." (http://classiclit.about.com/od/basicsliteratureintro/a/aa_literaturequ.htm
)
8. Salman
Rushdie, "Literature is where I go to explore the highest and lowest
places in human society and in the human spirit, where I hope to find not
absolute truth but the truth of the tale, of the imagination and of the
heart." (http://classiclit.about.com/od/basicsliteratureintro/a/aa_literaturequ.htm
)
9. Literature is
referred to as the entirety of written expression, with the restriction that not
every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense
of the word. (Mario Klarer. 2004. AN INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDIES Second
edition. London and New York
[pdf])
10. James H & Hoeper, Jeffrey D, " the creation of literature is a uniquely
human activity, born of man's timeless desire to understand, express, and
finally share experiences. (http://www.idwrite.com/2015/04/definition-of-literature-according-to.html
)
From
all statements above, I conclude that Literature is a writing which is written
with human feeling, human minds, maybe
it is experience or just imajination and it is made with using beautiful words.
It
is same like I like reading novel, especially romantic novel. When I read a
novel, I can feel the story in it. I can imagine the moment or feel I am one of
characters in that novel. Novel is one
of literatures. The other, like poetry,
drama, short story, etc. They are literature. I think, in our life, we can not
avoid the literature because literature always with us.
References
:
Mario
Klarer. 2004. AN INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDIES Second edition. London and New York [pdf]
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