DEFINITION OF LITERATURE

• Literature is derived from the Latin word littera, meaning 'a letter of the alphabet'
• It encompasses humankind's entire body of writing, followed by the body of writing specific to a language or people, and then individual pieces of writing
• Literature includes stories of marginalized or underrepresented groups, amplifying their voices
• Traditionally, literature refers to imaginative works distinguished by authors' intentions and perceived aesthetic excellence in execution (style of writing)
• Literature is a creation of human experiences that narrates about people and their world
• Literature is a form of human expression, but not all written expressions are considered literature, even when organized and written down