literature

Common Definitions: Literature often viewed as all written expression, but not all documents qualify as literature.
- Specific adjectives like "aesthetic" or "artistic" help distinguish literary works from everyday texts (e.g., telephone books, newspapers).
Etymology:
- "Litteratura": From Latin, meaning letter or written symbols.
- "Text": Originates from the Latin for fabric, suggesting that words and sentences combine to create coherent meaning.
Cultural Perspective: Literature should be viewed as a cultural and historical phenomenon, tied to the context of its creation and reception.

Creative Expression: Humans have an inherent wish to leave a mark through artistic expression.
Early Aesthetic Expressions: Prehistoric cave paintings as early evidence of encoded information conveying meaning through visuals.

Pictorial & Acoustic Elements: Literature includes visual and acoustic elements, especially the spoken word, which was essential before the advent of writing.
Oral Poetry: Preceded written texts, involving memorization and performance by bards; many early epics were preserved orally before being transcribed.
Revival of Oral Tradition: Modern mediums like radio and songs reflect the oral roots of literature.

Evolution of Writing: The rise of printing diminished the visual aspects traditionally present in manuscripts, leading to a more stylized form of writing.
- Drama: Retains the union of spoken word and visual expression.
- Media Interactions: New textual studies incorporate various media forms, blurring the lines between creative expressions.

Classification of Literature: Both literary history and poetics are essential for understanding text evolution and genre classification.
Main Genres: Traditionally, literature is classified into:
- Epic
- Drama
- Poetry
Evolving Terminology:
- Text Type: Identifies forms not classified under traditional genres (instruction manuals, sermons, etc.).
- Discourse: Wider classification covering all forms of expression (political, sexual, etc.).

Primary Sources: Original literary works across genres used for analysis.
Secondary Sources: Scholarly interpretations, reviews, and critiques related to the primary texts.
- Importance: Requires standards of objectivity, source documentation, and validity in literary criticism.
Academic Standards: Critical apparatus includes footnotes, bibliographies, and indexing.

Origins of the Novel: The novel developed from earlier forms like epic poetry (Homer, Virgil) to become a central literary form by the 18th century.
Epic vs. Romance: Traditional epics are broad, while romances focus on plot and character development, showing individualized protagonists.
Prose Variations: The modern novel encompasses various sub-genres:
- Picaresque, Bildungsroman, epistolary, historical, satirical, utopian, gothic, and detective novels.
Short Stories: Emerged in the late 18th century, focusing on unity and often written in magazines.

Definition Challenges: Poetry resists strict definitions; often distinguished by its lyrical quality, rhythmic structure, and emotional depth.
Categories: Divided mainly into narrative poetry (epics, ballads) and lyric poetry concerned with specific impressions or ideas.
Imagery and Symbolism: Central to poetry; language invokes strong sensory impressions and can symbolize deeper meanings.
Rhetorical Figures: Metaphors and similes enrich the text, allowing for abstract thinking to be conveyed in a concrete manner.

Literary Origins: Rooted in rituals of ancient cultures, merging verbal and non-verbal elements.
Structure: Comprised of acts and scenes; often emphasizes character dialogue and stage directions.
Evolving Forms: Shift from classical traditions to modern interpretations (realism, absurdism, etc.)
Performative Aspects: The spatial and visual dimensions of plays influence the portrayal of narrative, requiring analysis of staging, direction, and performance techniques.

Film and Literature: Film has shaped modern storytelling and can be analyzed using literary techniques despite being a distinct medium with unique features.
Intermedial Influence: Film utilizes various techniques like editing and montage, which both parallels and contrasts with literary storytelling.
Genre Interactions: The convergence of dramatic forms with filmic techniques has prompted innovations across genres.