Literature is the art of written works, including fictional and non-fictional works meant for artistic or educational purposes. Literature can be categorized as either oral or written, with oral literature being stories passed down verbally and written literature being written works like novels, poems, plays, and other genres. Written literature falls into two main types - prose, which is non-poetic writing, and verse, which uses rhythmic lines like in poetry. Literature aims to have lasting artistic value and quality beyond just being a neutral recording of words.