Written works such as novels, poetry, and criticism that express or examine human experience and society; also the field of study or genre of such works.
大学では近代日本文学を専攻して、多くの小説を読みました。
I majored in modern Japanese literature at university and read many novels.
村上春樹の作品は現代文学の重要な一部と見なされている。
Haruki Murakami's works are regarded as an important part of contemporary literature.
彼は文学の授業で詩の解釈を発表した。
He presented his interpretation of a poem in literature class.