The question of literary truth is a vexed one, due in part to the confusion of language, and in part to the confusion as to what constitutes a work of literature and what constitutes truth. An analysis of literature suggests that it speaks not merely through words and sentences but through shared human experience. In order for the concept of literary truth to be significant, then it must relate to what is significant in the work of literature itself, what it contributes to our knowledge and experience of the world. Trust is not monolithic. There are different senses in which a work of literature may be said to be true, although the point of the concept remains the same. In teaching literature, it is important to look at the work as a whole, and to recognize the contribution it can make to the curriculum. In particular, this requires the acknowledgement of literature as a source of truth.