The Latin word litera, which meaning letter, is where the word literature originates. Different authors have given it different definitions. Some people consider anything printed that is written in a book, magazine, or pamphlet to be literature. Others characterize literature as an accurate portrayal of humanity's many experiences distilled into a single, harmonic statement. Literature can be defined as the tale of man because it deals with human ideas, thoughts, and emotions expressed in beautiful language. It is the expression of man's loves, sorrows, thoughts, dreams, and aspirations. One must read a country's literature to learn about its spirit's history. The term "world literature" refers to all national literature produced worldwide as well as literature that has been distributed outside of its original nation. It used to mostly relate to the great works of Western European literature, but these days, world literature is more and more understood in a global perspective. Readers can now access a vast array of international books in several translations. A lot of academics claim that a work is considered international literature if it is read outside of its nation of origin. Therefore, it is necessary to "trace the little rills as they course along down the ages, broadening and deepening into the great ocean of thought which men of the present source are presently exploring" in order to truly comprehend the spirit of a nation.

1. LITERARY
COMPOSITIONS
THAT INFLUENCED
THE WORLD

2. 1. BIBLE- originated from
Palestine
- It is a collection of sacred
books written by ancient
prophets and historians. These
authors recorded the
relationship between God and
His people for over 4,000 years.
Their inspired words are what
we know today as the Holy
Bible.

3. 2.KORAN- originated from Saudi
Arabia
- It is the Islamic sacred book, believed to
be the word of God as dictated to
Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel and
written down in Arabic. The Koran consists
of 114 units of varying lengths, known as
suras ; the first sura is said as part of the
ritual prayer. These touch upon all aspects
of human existence, including matters of
doctrine, social organization, and
legislation.

4. 3. THE ILIAD & THE ODYSSEY -
The legend that was written by
Homer
- The Iliad tells the story of part of
the mythical Trojan War, while The
Odyssey tells the story of
Odysseus's journey home after the
war is over. Today, both The Iliad
and The Odyssey have been widely
translated into many languages.

5. 4. MAHABHARATA- longest epic
contains the history of religion in
India
- It is an ancient Indian epic where the
main story revolves around two
branches of a family - the Pandavas and
Kauravas - who, in the Kurukshetra War,
battle for the throne of Hastinapura.
Interwoven into this narrative are several
smaller stories about people dead or
living, and philosophical discourses.

6. 5. CANTERBURY TALES
– It is a collection of stories
written by Geoffrey Chaucer in
the 14th century. Each story is
narrated by one of a group of
pilgrims who are travelling to
Canterbury Cathedral to visit the
shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.

7. 6. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN – Harriet
Beecher Stowe shared ideas about the
injustices of slavery, pushing back
against dominant cultural beliefs
about the physical and emotional
capacities of black people.
- It simply sought to unmask the
horrors of slavery, the novel brought
millions to the abolitionist, or anti-
slavery, movement in America.

8. 7. THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE
ALIGHIERI
- The main idea in Dante's the Divine
Comedy is essentially how people
learn to attain salvation. It gives a
long narration of how Dante's pilgrim
goes through hell in inferno and
gives such a figurative picture of how
sinners suffer without any hope of
redemption.

9. 8. EL CID COMPEADOR-
Cultural characteristic &
national history of Spain
- El Cid was a formidable military leader
who won several famous battles. He was
also an astute politician. His most
significant accomplishment was his
conquest of Muslim-ruled Valencia in
spite of strong Almoravid resistance. He
ruled Valencia from 1094 until his death
in 1099.

10. 9. SONG OF ROLAND -
Golden Age of France
- The Song of Roland is an epic
poem from the 11th century that
recounts the heroic deeds of
Charlemagne's knights and their
battle against the Muslim Saracens in
Spain. It is a testament to chivalry,
honor, and religious fervor.

11. 10. THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
“Book of the Dead” is a modern term to
describe a series of ancient Egyptian
funerary spells that helped the
deceased find their way to the afterlife
in order to become united with the god
of the dead, Osiris. There are nearly 200
known spells, but they weren't collected
into books in our current sense of the
word.

12. 11.THE BOOK OF THE DAYS
The Book of the Days reflects Confucius's vision of an ideal
society based on moral values and human relationships. He
believed that people should follow the example of their
ancestors and uphold the virtues of ren (humanity), li (ritual),
xiao (filial piety), and tianming (heavenly mandate). He also
advocated for a hierarchical but harmonious social order,
where everyone had their proper roles and responsibilities. He
hoped that by restoring the ancient rites and institutions of
the Zhou dynasty, he could bring peace and stability to his
troubled times.
The Book of the Days is one of the most important sources
for understanding Confucianism, which has profoundly
influenced the civilization of East Asia for more than two
millennia. Confucianism is not only a philosophy but also a
way of life that emphasizes ethics, education, and humanism.
The Book of the Days provides a comprehensive and detailed
account of how Confucius envisioned such a life in practice.

13. 12. ONE THOUSAND & ONE NIGHTS OR
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
The main frame story concerns Shahryār, whom the narrator calls a
"Sasanian king" ruling in "India and China".[8] Shahryār is shocked to
learn that his brother's wife is unfaithful. Discovering that his own wife's
infidelity has been even more flagrant, he has her killed. In his bitterness
and grief, he decides that all women are the same. Shahryār begins to
marry a succession of virgins only to execute each one the next
morning, before she has a chance to dishonor him.
Eventually the Vizier (Wazir), whose duty it is to provide them, cannot
find any more virgins. Scheherazade, the vizier's daughter, offers herself
as the next bride and her father reluctantly agrees. On the night of their
marriage, Scheherazade begins to tell the king a tale, but does not end
it. The king, curious about how the story ends, is thus forced to
postpone her execution in order to hear the conclusion. The next night,
as soon as she finishes the tale, she begins another one, and the king,
eager to hear the conclusion of that tale as well, postpones her
execution once again. This goes on for one thousand and one nights,
hence the name.