| Abstract from DBPedia | Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include oral literature, much of which has been transcribed. Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment, and can also have a social, psychological, spiritual, or political role. Literature, as an art form, can also include works in various non-fiction genres, such as biography, diaries, memoir, letters, and the essay. Within its broad definition, literature includes non-fictional books, articles or other printed information on a particular subject. Etymologically, the term derives from Latin literatura/litteratura "learning, a writing, grammar," originally "writing formed with letters," from litera/littera "letter". In spite of this, the term has also been applied to spoken or sung texts. Developments in print technology have allowed an ever-growing distribution and proliferation of written works, which now includes electronic literature. Literature is classified according to whether it is poetry, prose or drama, and such works are often further categorized according to historical period, adherence to certain aesthetic features, or genre.文学（ぶんがく）とは、言語表現による芸術作品のこと。文芸ともいう。詩・小説・戯曲・随筆・文芸評論などを典型的な文学の例とする。それらを研究する学問も文学と称されるが、これについては文芸学で扱う。原初的な文学は口承文芸であったが、写本による書物の流通を経て、やがて印刷技術が普及するにつれて活字印刷による文学作品の出版が主流になった。現在ではインターネットを利用した電子メディア上で表現されるものもある。 (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Literature) |
