Essay on a Common Definition of Literature: A Review of Different Perspectives

Since its inception, the definition of literature has been a contentious and problematic issue among scholars. Attempts to explain the concept has narrowed down to questions on the qualities of literature and its function. However, various literary schools have advanced different responses to the same problem that have further led to a failure in reaching a general definition. The failure can be ascribed to varying perspectives upon which different works are based and the difficulty in distinguishing fiction from fact in some writings. Perhaps the most relevant explanation of literature is one that distinguishes between two directions, a narrow and comprehensive one. The reasons are problematic as well since they do not enable communication of the subject. However, it is possible to sift out some criteria used by scholars to develop a system to define literary texts. Literature refers to fictional works that use specific language, are ambiguous and has the pragmatic function of narrating, such as short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, and drama.

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Short stories are brief works of fiction usually written in prose form about unreal events and characters. Despite the constant debates on the length of short stories, it is unanimous that its texts are about 1600 to 2000 words. In another proposition, a short story should take half to two hours to read. Their subject can range on several themes from something as everyday errands or as thrilling as horror tales. One of the hallmarks of this genre is the simple plot that contributes to the shaping of its other traits. The setting is usually one and begins in media res, a Latin word meaning the middle of things. In other words, shorts stories start and end brusquely with no lapses in time or prior information of events to occurs. It is because short stories involve one plot and are limited in word length leaving little room or need for additional developments as it happens in lengthier compositions. Besides, there is a limited number of characters, and typically the focus is on one or a couple of them. These few characters may not even be developed entirely as the time covered by short stories is brief. An excellent example of a short story is A Clean Well-Lighted Place. The story is brief, fictional, and has one setting, a restaurant. Also, it has few characters, two waiters and old man. It also has a single theme, suicide. All these are traits of a short story.

In regards to poetry, it is the literary genre that is usually mysterious and problematic. Everyone has his or her understanding of poetry based on perception. However, the common conception designating poetry is that it is spoken or written, emphasizes on rhyme, has intricate sound patterns and above all is fictional in content. Whereas ordinary literature is organized in sentences and paragraphs, poetry in its purest form has lines and stanzas as the equivalent of sentences and paragraphs. The manner of structuring lines in poetry is considered as a type of garment that shapes and encompasses the thoughts within it. Poetry like other literary works has its purpose, language, structure, and general characteristics. It equally tells about imaginary events, uses specific vocabulary, and is ambiguous. It is poetry that exploits the specialized language nature of literature than the rest of the genres. Simile, hyperbole, personification, and metaphor are some of these unique languages. Shakespeare's Sonnets are an example of poetic compositions from the Medieval era. These compositions adopt all the traits of literature narrating fictitious events, using specific language as well as being ambiguous. The story of persuasion in the piece is imaginary and something that never happened.

Another genre of literary works in the creative nonfiction. There is contention on the nature of creative nonfiction in its consideration as literate. As provided in the definition earlier on, literature is nonfiction in nature. However, creative non-fiction tells the events that occurred in real life and used real characters. The reason creative non-fiction is literature is ingrained in its use of literary crafts and techniques employed by fiction writers in contemporary compositions. While this genre exploits precise prose on real events and individuals, its goal is to make the non-fictitious content read like fiction stories so that the audience is enthralled by the fact that they are fantasy. Also, the creativity in this genre has made critics to believe that there is some form of exaggeration and embellishing of details involved in writing the stories. In this way, there are aspects of fiction that are contained in the composition. Into the Wild is a brilliant example of a non-fictitious composition. The book tells the story of the real character Christopher Johnson McCandless who is born to a rich and in the competition of college decides to donate all his wealth to charity to live alone in Alaska. While the narration here is of real events, the author makes it feel like a fiction.

Lastly, drama as a genre refers to the piece of literature that presents a fiction story in the form of dialogue. This literary genre is striking, impactful and physical as it offers characters along with an ordinary and sound aspect. In other words, there is no narrator, only the characters telling the story. Drama like the genre of short stories has a plot and setting too. However, the only distinction is that short stories cannot be performed in front of an audience as drama is. In short, drama offers a live setting where the characters are actual and naturally demonstrate the narration. Moreover, there is more influence carried in drama and more often easily motivate the reader or audience. As it occurs the possibility to visualize drama offers it more fidelity and trustworthiness. The drama Othello is an example of a story that is presented in the form of drama. As one reads the texts of the book, the story is delivered from the conversation of the characters. However, the events are not reals but fictitious thoughts of the author.

Conclusion

In summary, literature is an excellent written work that is fictitious, uses specific language, ambiguous and has the pragmatic function of telling a story. The four genres of literature, short stories, poetry, creative non-fiction, and drama as discussed above exemplifies aspects of the definition of literature. A common theme in all the genres is the aspect of fiction in their texts. Even types that narrate real events have an element of the invention as authors use some exaggerations of content that makes them fiction. On the other hand, all the genres have a setting, characters, and plot through which the pragmatic function of narration is achieved. Literature provokes thoughts bringing forth ideas and fantasies.