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Why are many great novels and dramas considered literature while other novels and plays are not?

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Antique book open to the frontispiece of The Iliad of Homer, showing the title and an engraved portrait of a bearded man, with old books in the background. — literature *The Iliad*, an epic of the Trojan War attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, is considered a foundational work of Western literature.

The distinction between works considered literature and those that are not is often based on the concept of artistic merit. While literature is broadly defined as the entire body of human writing, the term is frequently reserved for works that demonstrate excellence in form, expression, and the ability to convey ideas of universal or permanent interest.123

Works categorized as "great" novels or dramas are typically distinguished by their aesthetic execution, depth, and ability to provoke reflection, whereas works excluded from this category—often labeled as popular literature or genre fiction—are frequently designed primarily for entertainment. Popular literature tends to be plot-driven, follows conventional narrative structures, and is often ephemeral, meaning its appeal may fade over time.145

However, these boundaries are not fixed. The classification of a work can shift through critical evaluation and the passage of time; for instance, works by William Shakespeare were once viewed as popular entertainment but are now central to the literary canon. Furthermore, contemporary debates often challenge the traditional "great works" canon, questioning whether these standards have historically been too narrow or biased toward specific cultural perspectives.4513