Literature consists of written productions, often restricted 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). 

Definitions of literature have varied over time; it is a "culturally relative definition". In Western Europe prior to the eighteenth century, literature as a term indicated all books and writing. A more restricted sense of the term emerged during the Romantic period, in which it began to demarcate "imaginative" literature. Contemporary debates over what constitutes literature can be seen as returning to the older, more inclusive notion of what constitutes literature. Cultural studies, for instance, takes as its subject of analysis both popular and minority genres, in addition to canonical works.
What is the Latin root of Literature?
What does that come from?
What does that mean?
What does literature include?
Anything written?
Which ones?
How many ways can it be categorized?
Can those categories be broken down further?
in how many ways?
Do they separate it by periods?
What about features?
What are those categories called?
When did imaginative works start?
What kind of studies deals with literature?
What types of genres do they use?
What else?
Has the meaning of literature changed?
When did it mean books and writing?
Where?
Is the current definition more inclusive?
literatura or litteratura
 Its Latin root literatura/litteratura
from littera
(derived itself from littera
letter or handwriting
derived itself from littera, letter or handwriting
written productions
Literature consists of written productions
no
 restricted to those deemed to have artistic or intellectual value.
ones that have artistic or intellectual value
restricted to those deemed to have artistic or intellectual value
four
Literature can be classified according to whether it is fiction or non-fiction and whether it is poetry or prose
yes
 it can be further distinguished according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama
three
it can be further distinguished according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama
yes
works are often categorised according to historical periods
yes
or their adherence to certain aesthetic features or expectations (genre)
genres
their adherence to certain aesthetic features or expectations (genre)
during the Romantic period
 during the Romantic period, in which it began to demarcate "imaginative" literature.
Cultural studies
Cultural studies, for instance, takes as its subject 
cultural and minority
takes as its subject of analysis both popular and minority genres
canonical works.
in addition to canonical works.
yes
Definitions of literature have varied over time
prior to the eighteenth century
prior to the eighteenth century, literature as a term indicated all books and writing
In Western Europe
In Western Europe prior to the eighteenth century,
yes
Contemporary debates over what constitutes literature can be seen as returning to the older, more inclusive notion 