Question: What are my necessary and sufficient conditions to define literature?
Necessary:
1.)It must be a written work - if a work were originally oral in nature, it could be transcribed, and so long as it satisfied the other necessary and some of the sufficient conditions, it could be considered literature.
2.)It must be intentionally created - which is to say, by some sentient being, be it human or otherwise (when, where, and if it is possible for non-humans to create a written work).
3.) It must possess literary aesthetic style and form rather than an artistic style and form (lines, colours, and shapes) - artistic form and style can be a part of a work, but it is the words and grammar that are literature.
Sufficient:
1.) Consist of dialogue with or without narrative
2.) Be fictitious
3.) Convey a message through an indirect means
4.) Convey emotion and/or imagery
I think that a work should have all the necessary conditions and two, at least, of the sufficient to be qualified as literature. Though there is still more room for sufficient conditions.
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