WHAT IS LITERATURE?

Defining and Determining Literature and Non-Literature

Literature, unlike Mathematics and Physics, is not an exact branch of knowledge. While in
Mathematics 2 multiplied by 2 equals 4, it doesn't have to be that way in literature. This is the main
reason why when it comes to the question of what literature is there is no exact definition.

Muslim scholar and philosopher Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq defined literature as 'the garment which one puts
on what they say or write so that it may appear more attractive. While Russian Formalist Roman
Jakobson states that literature is an 'organized violence committed on ordinary speech, Hornby defined
literature as '(the writing of the study of) books, etc valued as works of art (drama, fiction, essays,
poetry, biography) contrasted with technical books and journalism.

The definitions mentioned above are just three of many others definitions that are recognized
worldwide. However, each person might have their own definitions of literature. When asked about the
definition of literature, Valentino Basswara, an English Literature senior student, states that literature is
'something made from deepest thought and it could be defined as a respond to the society happenings'.
A different answer to the same question is offered by Junaedi Ghazali, an English Literature junior
student. According to Ghazali, literature is 'humans work in the form of written words that reflects
beauty'.

Considering the numerous definitions of literature existed, many people might be wondering of what
literature actually is. There might be some tricky questions, too, such as : Can a definition be judged
right or wrong? Are ordinary people are allowed to make their own definitions of literature? What kind
of work can be considered literature or non-literature?

The world's theories on literature is constantly evolving alongside the changes and advances of society
and technology. This happens because it is the audience that is in charge of distinguishing literature.
Authors may use literature to represent their people, culture, and tradition. However, since literature is
completely open to interpretation, it is the reader's imagination of the readers that brings a story to life.
Literature affects its readers by triggering their imaginations through language, and it is the
interpretation of that language that truly makes literature. Without readers to read and interpret their
books, the authors and their books are nothing.

Readers are so important for authors and their works that it is unfair if critics are the only ones allowed
to determine what literature is and what non-literature is on the grounds of a standard of grammar and
syntax, of an unbelievable and unconnected story-line, or of inconsistent or unconvincing characters.
Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, for instance, is a play with many grammatical mistakes. Even
so, the response of the audience was so great that the play was stamped literature straight away. On the
other hand, an older literary work, Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure was not considered literature
when it first published. It was badly criticized. The copies were even burned. Yet as time changed, the
response of the audience changed, and Jude the Obscure is now listed as a prominent literary work.

However different the cases are, however different the times are, those examples show us that the
response of the audience is the one to determine what literature is. Readers' responses are varied
according to the readers' culture, tradition, point of views, education background, ideologies, thoughts,
beliefs, etc. The strongest factor in determining readers response is the effect they get from the work.
Literature affects its readers. Literature uses 'language open to five senses' to gently move us into a
vivid and heartfelt response. Literature is marked by its unique capability of using language to paint
worlds within our imaginations and to stir emotions that we did not know existed. While writings like
newspaper and textbooks and other non-literature texts are being deciphered and absorbed, literature is
interpreted. When reading literature, we are introduced to a complete new world which we have never
seen yet or will never see in real life, we are led into an imaginary world, our emotions are stirred and
the way it affects the readers effects the fact represented in the text. Therefore, a response towards a
literary work shown by a professor of literature will be different with those shown by literature
students, mathematics students, politicians, ulama, nurses, street musicians, or a cashier at
supermarkets. This gives opportunities for every reader to define literature and determine what
literature or non-literature is. It is supported by Teeuw's theory, 'literature is what a society regards as
literature, depends on several conventions it has.

There is no right or wrong in defining what literature is and determining literature and non-literature.
As long as each theory is based on logical arguments, almost everything is welcome in literature.
Surely there might be different opinions and perspectives, but it is these differences that make literature
richer and more interesting that any other subjects. Why? Because literature is not Mathematics. In
literature, 2 multiplied by 2 doesn't have to equal 4. (ashiiqa)

References :

Hornby, A.S. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press.
Oxford, United Kingdom : 1987.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1796406/what_is_literature_pg4.html?cat=38

Interviews :

Valentino Basswara, student of English Department class 2005, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah
Mada University.
Junaedi Ghazali, student of English Department class 2007, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada
University.
Gde Dwitya, graduated student of English Department class 2004, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah
Mada University.