ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of literature

Literature means written works like books, poems, and stories. The history of literature is like a big storybook about how people have been writing and reading for a very long time.

A long time ago, people used to tell stories by talking to each other, and these stories were passed down from generation to generation. Many of these stories were about gods and heroes, and they were used to explain things about the world that people didn't understand.

As people began to write things down, they started to create new kinds of stories. One of the very first things that was ever written down was an epic poem called "The Epic of Gilgamesh," which told the story of a great king who went on a journey to find immortality.

Over time, people developed new types of writing, including plays and novels. These new types of writing allowed people to explore different ideas and emotions, and they created whole new worlds that readers could escape into.

Throughout history, literature has been influenced by the time period in which it was written. For example, during the Renaissance, writers like William Shakespeare wrote plays that were very different from the epic poems of ancient times. And during the Romantic era, writers like Jane Austen wrote novels that were focused on the emotions and experiences of ordinary people.

Today, there are so many different types of literature that it can be hard to keep track of them all! But no matter what kind of story you like, there's sure to be a book out there that you'll love.