what is literature

[delebartholomew]

literature is the true or imaginative evidence of what is happening to individuals in the society. By Dele Bartholomew

[mal4mac]

Isn't "imaginative evidence" an oxymoron?

Isn't "true evidence" a pleonasm?

I prefer the dictionary definition.

[cacian]

literature is a mean to develop a scene
it is also a way to get out of real and get into feel.
the pursuit of what could be that is not yet is literature
the rest is hear lay.

[Cleanthes]

According to Bart and Lisa's uncle, literature,

Whatever it is, it must have
A stomach that can digest
Rubber, coal, uranium, moons, poems.

Like the shark it contains a shoe.
It must swim for miles through the desert
Uttering cries that are almost human.

[PeterL]

literature is the true or imaginative evidence of what is happening to individuals in the society. By Dele Bartholomew

Fundamentally, literature is simply anything that is written.

literature
[lit-er-uh-cher, -choo r, li-truh-
noun
1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays.
2. the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc.:
the literature of England.
3. the writings dealing with a particular subject:
the literature of ornithology.
4. the profession of a writer or author.
5. literary work or production.
6. any kind of printed material, as circulars, leaflets, or handbills:
literature describing company products.
7. Archaic. polite learning; literary culture; appreciation of letters and books.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/literature?s=t

If you want literature to refer to a particular type of writing, then you must specify that, as in: imaginative literature, advertising literature, and so on.

[mal4mac]

Fundamentally, literature is simply anything that is written.

literature
[lit-er-uh-cher, -choo r, li-truh-
noun
1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays.
2...

If you want literature to refer to a particular type of writing, then you must specify that, as in: imaginative literature, advertising literature, and so on.

But on this forum we take definition 1. to be the default don't we? It would be a bit tedious to be always having to say, "Literature, by which I mean writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays is..."

[dark desire]

If we could have a definition why would we have literature?