LITERATURE: Definition

and its Importance

Contemporary, Popular, and
Emergent Literature
WHAT IS LITERATURE?

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.
THE 7 LITERARY STANDARDS OF
LITERATURE
1. Artistry - a quality which appeals to our sense of beauty.
2. Intellectual Beauty - each literary pieces must stimulate thought. These
should enrich our mental life by making us realize about the fundamental
truths towards life and human nature.
3. Suggestiveness - this is the quality relevant to the emotional power of
literature to make us feel deeply and stir our imagination. It should
trigger and evoke visions above and beyond the plane of ordinary life
experiences.
4. Spiritual Value - a literary work must elevate the spirit within us by
bringing our moral values into the realm of the physical world. It should
present moral values necessary for us to reflect and eventually inspire us
to become a better person.
5. Permanence - a great literary work endures and can be read again as each
readings gives fresh delights and new insights. It should not be ephemeral or
merely a passing hype to the audience; it should be long-lasting.

6. Universality - a great literary work is timeless and timely. It is forever relevant,

it appeals to one and all, anytime, and anywhere because it deals with an array of
individual's perceptions as well as orientations toward fundamental truths and
universal conditions.

7. Style - it is peculiar way in which a writer sees life, form his or her ideas
expresses them. Great works are marked as much by their memorable substances
as by their distinctive style.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE

 Expanding horizons - First and foremost,

literature opens our eyes and makes us see more
than just what the front door shows. It helps us
realize the wide world outside, surrounding us.
With this, we begin to learn, ask questions, and
build our intuitions and instincts. We expand our
minds.
 Building critical thinking skills - Many of us learn what
critical thinking is in our language arts classes. When we
read, we learn to look between the lines. We are taught to
find symbols, make connections, find themes, learn about
characters. Reading expands these skills, and we begin to
look at a sentence with a larger sense of detail and depth
and realize the importance of hidden meanings so that
we may come to a conclusion.
 A leap into the past - History and literature are
entwined with each other. History is not just about
power struggles, wars, names, and dates. It is about
people who are products of their time, with their own
lives. Today the world is nothing like it was in the 19th
century; people have changed largely. Without
literature, we would not know about our past, our
families, the people who came before and walked on
the same ground as us.
 Appreciation for other cultures and beliefs - Reading
about history, anthropology, or religious studies provides
a method of learning about cultures and beliefs other
than our own. It allows you to understand and
experience these other systems of living and other
worlds. We get a view of the inside looking out, a
personal view and insight into the minds and reasoning
of someone else. We can learn, understand, and
appreciate it.
 Appreciation for other cultures and beliefs - Reading
about history, anthropology, or religious studies provides
a method of learning about cultures and beliefs other
than our own. It allows you to understand and
experience these other systems of living and other
worlds. We get a view of the inside looking out, a
personal view and insight into the minds and reasoning
of someone else. We can learn, understand, and
appreciate it.