What is Literature??

[RichardHresko]

In addition to the perspective from a historical or social point of view once the text is written, perhaps one should also consider the original intention of the author to engage in literary dialogue (of a certain kind), and not solely as a phenomenon after the fact?

Every schoolboy knows what literature IS, and can identify it when he sees it, but arriving at a working definition makes us think of distinctions and subtleties that puts the original identification at hazard.

I agree. Which is why I would include the discarded novel as literature. I would emphasize that the author need not consciously intend the work as part of a dialogue.

[blazeofglory]

Literature is reflection of us, and also reflection of what we perceive of things of nature and society we are in. Literature is really a comprehensive expression of the horrors and beauties man live with. For life has both quotients side by side and these things wrap up man one after another endlessly. Such vistas and views man perceievs almost everyday coming across vagaries of life almost in every walk of life.

Literature is intoxication

[blp]

Literature is a ghost world verbally invoked.

[blazeofglory]

Literature is nature redefined or nature nurtured and groomed and man is taught to imitate it easily.

Literature is something that weaves dreams, and spins ideas and take us on the wings of fancy somewhere we otherwise never could have reached.