define literal art
n. 1. written material such as poetry, novels, essays, etc, esp works of imagination characterized by excellence of style and expression and by themes of general or enduring interest. 2. the body of written work of a particular culture or people: Scandinavian literature. 3. written or printed matter of a particular type or on a particular subject: scientific literature; the literature of the violin. 4. printed material giving a particular type of information: sales literature. 5. the art or profession of a writer.