Literature

-literature is a form of art. It is the expression of human nature and significant human
experiences.
-Literature is the art of written works. Literally translated, the word means
"acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter), and therefore the academic study of
literature is known as Letters (as in the phrase "Arts and Letters"). In Western culture the
most basic written literary types include fiction and nonfiction.

Different Branches of Literature

• five major branches of literature :

- fiction
- nonfiction
- poetry
- drama
- folklore

Definition of its Branches

Fiction - is any form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are
not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often
describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic,
documental, and musical work.

Nonfiction-is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. This

presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of
the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such
accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition.

Poetry-is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound,

and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response. Poetry has been
known to employ meter and rhyme, but this is by no means necessary.

Drama -A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to

exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more
than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result.

Folklore-The traditional beliefs, practices, customs, stories, jokes, songs (etc.) of a

people, handed down orally or behaviorally from individual to individual.