English literature is the literature written by the British showcasing the English lifestyle and culture.
This type of literary work is written in English language which is the mother tongue or native dialect of these people.
The works written by the English people cover the three genres of literature: Prose, Drama and Poetry.
For example, Yoruba literature will cover stories about the Yoruba history, stories about Sango, Oya, Sopona, Esu, how Oduduwa became the Yoruba leader, etc.
Literature in English, on the other hand, is the literary work that covers all regions or countries of the world, written in the English language.
The literature in this category are: Yoruba literature, Igbo literature, Canadian literature, American literature, African literature, Australian literature, Asian literature, etc.
For example, literature in Yoruba can cover stories about other ethnic groups or countries, such as stories about the British or French, written in the Yoruba language.
Another example is if I decide to write the Biafra story in the Yoruba language.
For example, to the Igbos, the Biafra story will be called Igbo literature while the same Biafra story to the Yorubas will be literature in Yoruba.