Introduction We’re diving into a foundational question in literary studies: What is literature? This might seem like a straightforward question, but as Terry Eagleton argues in the introduction to his influential book Literary Theory: An Introduction , it’s anything but simple. Eagleton challenges us to rethink our assumptions about what makes a text "literary" and why certain works are valued over others. His argument is that literature isn’t a fixed, objective category like "insects" in biology—it’s a social construct, shaped by historical, cultural, and ideological forces . we’ll explore Eagleton’s critique of traditional definitions of literature, his engagement with Russian Formalism, and his provocative claim that what we call "literature" is deeply tied to social power and ideology . By the end, you’ll see why defining literature is not just an academic exercise but a window into how societies value texts and maintain power structures. Let’s start...