English Literature Definition Essay

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For being such a commonplace term, Literature is rather loosely defined. The term originated in the late 14th Century from the Latin root litera/littera meaning letter and was used to refer to writing formed with letters. Through the ages, several other definitions have come to pass, including Merriam – Webster’s, that says literature can be anything from written works (such as poems, plays, and novels) that are considered to be very good and to have lasting importance, to printed materials (such as booklets, leaflets, and brochures) that provide information about something. In this paper, we look at how written work developed since writing was invented and how crucial a role it played in shaping historical events and how in turn, history affected …show more content…

Though many interesting and notable contributors might have been missed, I have tried my best to keep this paper concise and list out some of the times, incidents and people I felt were most significant. In the introductory part, we began with an understanding of what counts as literature. We then progressed to English Literature in three different forms – the Drama, Poetry and the Prose and respectively the most relevant periods in history. We saw how the times, the general demeanour of the masses, and the advancements in science and technology created the perfect settings for the development of each of these literary genres. Then we moved on to eminent philosophers and scientists, whose works, rightly termed as literature, had massive says in the progression of mankind. Thus, starting by looking at the impact of human history on the literary work produced, our discussion reached a full circle, ending with the impact of literature on our path to the modern world. By no means is this an exhaustive study, nor an in depth analysis, yet I hope it serves to provide a good idea of the topic and hopefully, in the reader, generate an interest to know

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