literature

Everyday

1. Written works such as novels, poems and plays, especially ones thought to be good or important. tree →
2. The study of these works as a school or university subject. tree →
3. All the writing about a particular subject, such as science papers. tree →
4. (informal) Printed information such as leaflets and booklets: free literature about the museum. tree →

In the lessons

In school, English literature lessons study stories, poems and plays and what they mean. In science and research, «the literature» means everything already published on a topic. In everyday life, «literature» can just mean leaflets. Phrases: English literature, children's literature, a work of literature, the literature on something.

Examples

• We are reading poems in literature class. tree →
• Shakespeare is a famous name in English literature. tree →
• Children's literature includes picture books and novels. tree →
• The museum gives out free literature at the door. tree →
• My sister wants to study literature at university. tree →
• The scientist read all the literature on frogs before her experiment. tree →
• Fairy tales are some of the oldest literature in the world. tree →
• Good literature makes you think and feel. tree →

Note

Uncountable: say «a lot of literature» or «a work of literature», not «a literature» (except about a nation's writing: «Irish literature»). Spelling: litERATure, with -ture at the end. Adjective: literary. Do not confuse with «literal» (exact meaning) or «literacy» (being able to read and write).

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Jewish literature includes the Bible, the Talmud, midrash and Kabbalah. Sefer Yetzirah is called the hardest book in it to understand. In the primary lessons: In school, English literature lessons study stories, poems and plays and what they mean. In science and research, «the literature» means everything already published on a topic. In everyday life, «literature» can just mean leaflets. Phrases: English literature, children's literature, a work of literature, the literature on something.

Examples

• A similar view is reflected in the midrashicic and Kabbalistic literature, where Torah or Wisdom acts as a participant or instrument in the Work of Creation; see e.g. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• There is no book in Jewish literature that is so difficult to understand as the Sefer Yetzirah. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• In kabbalistic literature, not only tiie vowel letter y. but all the letters are considered images of angels. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Uncountable: say «a lot of literature» or «a work of literature», not «a literature» (except about a nation's writing: «Irish literature»). Spelling: litERATure, with -ture at the end. Adjective: literary. Do not confuse with «literal» (exact meaning) or «literacy» (being able to read and write).