What is literature?

[slakyb]

What is literature and why is it important to study literature at all?
I just want to know your opinion.

[Morad]

To expand your knowledge, get to know other cultures, succeed in your major if you study it like me :). You cannot ask such question because the answer may take more than what is written in Literature indeed.

[Default]

Something we're forced to read at school.

Seriously though, literature is pretty awesome.
But, I'm pretty picky when it comes to literature and I hate literature class.
I only like to read what I pick to read. Not what I'm forced to read.

I only like some literature and some poetry. The rest is crap to me.