Introduction to Literature

It should be made clear from the onset that there is no real consensus or
one all embracing definition of the term literature. You should also
know that some of the definitions of literature given by scholars are
largely according to their wealth of life experience within their
locations. Before we move further, let us consider literature both on its
broad and narrow planes. Gyasi (1973) defines it in its broad sense as
"anything that is written", while Rees (1973) sees it in the narrow sense
of "writing which expresses and communicates thought, feelings and
attitudes towards life".
  The broad definition of literature appears to be vague and amorphous in
that it includes works that are not literature per se, like works in fields of
Education, Biology, History and a host of others, because they are
written. However, they cannot qualify as real literature. The narrow
definition delineates literature from its general purview to what can be
called literature as a subject of study.
For you to really know what literature is, some more definitions will
have to be given to you. This will be followed by the evaluation of each
of the definitions to see which one can be said or taken to be most
appropriate in discussing literature.
Moody (1987) writes that literature springs from our in born love of
telling a story, of arranging words in pleasing patterns, of expressing in
words some special aspects of our human experience.
Boulton (1980) defines literature from a functional perspective as the
imaginative work that gives us R’s: recreation, recognition, revelation
and redemption.
Rees (1973), after describing what he regarded as literature, summed up
that literature is a permanent expression in words of some thoughts or
feelings in ideas about life and the world.
All the above definitions describe literature from different perspectives.
Still, there are certain things that are common to them. They all
recognize the fact that:
i. Literature is imaginative
ii. Literature expresses thoughts and feelings
iii. Literature deals with life experiences
iv. Literature uses words in a powerful, effective and yet captivating
manner
vi. Literature promotes recreation and revelation of hidden facts.
Literature is thus summed up as permanent expressions in words
(written or spoken), specially arranged in pleasing accepted patterns or
forms. Literature expresses thoughts, feelings, ideas or other special
aspects of human experiences.