Defining literature can often be difficult. Defining “literature related to the humanities” is even more difficult. In order to accurately define the second term, one must first define literature, as well as define humanities. Some would argue that the term involves any work that involves the written word. This is wrong. “Literature” is a classification for which the Nobel Prize is awarded. However, that is not a definition. One must recognize what literature is in order to recognize which authors are likely to be nominated and potentially win the most prestigious award in all of literature. It is easy to recognize what is not literature.
These are works of writing that most certainly will never win the author a Nobel Prize, or even a Pulitzer Prize. Ironically, the works found at the top of this list are often the works found at the top of the New York Times bestseller list; obviously, this does not say much for the reading selections of the average American. According to Mark Twain, “A classic [is] something that everybody wants to have read and no one wants to read.” The New York Times list clearly shows this. These include works such as Twilight and the Fifty Shades series. The works lack any depth to them. Their characters of flat caricatures of individuals. The plots are contrived and fail to surprise the reader. The writing clearly lacks something, namely tone and depth. This is not to say that they are not enjoyable reads; in many ways, they are. They allow the reader to just have a mindless escape. Reading literature tends to involve some thought process. The reason why is likely the reason it is literature.
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"Defining Literature".
Literature is a work of art that involves the written word. However, the work must have merit to it. It must involve some sort of depth to it; this depth may come from the characters, from the choice of words and from the plot. Often, it involves all three. The work is often considered to be relevant to the current culture and time period. However, in many ways, it is timeless. It recognizes the enduring aspects of humanity and applies these to the relevant cultural aspects of the work.
This is how literature is related to the humanities. The humanities refer to various fields of academic study that focus on the culture of humans. There are a large number of academic disciplines that can be classified as humanities. These include literature, history, classical studies, modern languages, social studies, art, anthropology and other fields. It should be noted that this is a large classification of various academic disciplines.
Literature is part of the humanities because the humanities observe and study the human condition and the human culture. This would be virtually impossible if not for the field of literature. By all means, other areas also discuss the human condition. For example, periods of art can tell us what was important at this point in time. However, literature elaborates on the aspect of humanity in such an important way. Literature tells us and teaches us about the social customs and mores of different parts of history. It teaches us how humans have evolved with regard to language. One only needs to read Beowulf to recognize that human language has evolved. When one reads Shakespeare, it becomes obvious that language and culture is a work in progress; obviously, the language of Shakespeare was quite different than that of Olde English. Humans adapt. The humanities need literature to show this.
However, the field of the humanities also show that we have changed little over the millennium. Humans still share the same aspirations, dreams and heartache that existed five thousand years ago as the Bible teaches. In some ways, the recognition of this allows literature and the humanities to survive, despite the proliferation of cheap “literature” like those found on the New York Times’ bestseller list. Recently, the work The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, a Brazilian writer, has made the list, twenty five years after its initial debut. It has also reached the extended list, recently reaching over 300 weeks on the list (New York Times 2014). This book is one of the best-selling novels of all time. It is also, undoubtedly, a classic. It appeals to a greater aspect of humanity. It recognizes that there is something greater than ourselves, yet still applies this to the individual. This is literature. There is an endearing human quality to it. This is how it is relates to the humanities.
