1.

Literature consists of a collection of written productions, often restricting to those deemed to

have artistic or intellectual value. Its Latin root literatura/litteratura (derived itself from littera,
letter or handwriting) was used to refer to all written accounts, but intertwined with the roman
concept of cultura: learning or cultivation. Literature often uses language differently than
ordinary language (see literariness). Literature can be classified according to whether it
is fiction or non-fiction and whether it is poetry or prose; it can be further distinguished
according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama; and works are often
categorised according to historical periods or their adherence to certain aesthetic features or
expectations (genre).
The concept has changed meaning over time: nowadays it can broaden to include non-written verbal
art forms, and thus it is difficult to agree on its origin, which can be paired with that of language or
writing itself.Developments in print technology have allowed an evergrowing distribution and
proliferation of written works, culminating in electronic literature.

literature (n.)
late 14c., from Latin literatura/litteratura "learning, a writing, grammar,"
originally "writing formed with letters," from litera/littera "letter"
(see letter (n.1)). Originally "book learning" (it replaced Old English boccrft),
the meaning "literary production or work" is first attested 1779 in Johnson's
"Lives of the English Poets" (he didn't include this definition in his dictionary,
however); that of "body of writings from a period or people" is first recorded
1812.
Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible
degree. [Ezra Pound, "ABC of Reading"]
Meaning "the whole of the writing on a particular subject" is from 1860; sense of
"printed matter generally" is from 1895. The Latin word also is the source of
Spanish literatura, Italian letteratura, German Literatur.

2. Importance of Literature
It is a curious and prevalent opinion that literature, like all art, is a mere play of
imagination, pleasing enough, like a new novel, but without any serious or
practical importance. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Literature preserves
the ideals of a people; and ideals--love, faith, duty, friendship, freedom,
reverence--are the part of human life most worthy of preservation.

The Greeks were a marvelous people; yet of all their mighty works we cherish
only a few ideals,--ideals of beauty in perishable stone, and ideals of truth in
imperishable prose and poetry. It was simply the ideals of the Greeks and
Hebrews and Romans, preserved in their literature, which made them what they
were, and which determined their value to future generations.
3. Prose is written in paragraph form and is meant to reflect common, everyday
language. The chief objectives of prose are to inform or educate the reader, or
instruct the reader to do something. Examples of prose include a novel, essay,
letter or biography.
Poetry is written in verse form, with the express intent to appeal to the reader's
emotion. It relies heavily on the use of metaphors and abstract language to
encourage the readers to use their imagination. Examples of poetry include a
ballad, an epic, a sonnet or a song.

4.