CREATIVE NONFICTION

Introduction to Literary Genres

What is Genre?

 A genre is a particular type of literature, painting, music, film, or other art

form.
 The word genre refers to a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition
characterized by a particular style, form, or content.

A literary genre is a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined by

technique, tone, content, or even length.

Literary conventions are the features of a literary work that define its genre. These
elements can be tropes, arcs, clichés, or certain devices that help distinguish how your
audience will classify your literary text.

Fiction

A written stories about people and events that are not real: literature that tell stories
which are imagined by the writer.

Elements of Fiction

Plot

Plot is the author’s arrangement of events in the

story. It has a beginning, middle and an end.
More specifically, the plot follows the Freytag
pyramid.

Narrative Stages

The narrative stages of the plot are as follows:

 Exposition: The start of the story, the situation before the action starts
 Rising Action: The series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to
the climax
 Climax / Turning Point: The most intense moment-either mentally or in
action – the reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be
resolve or not?
 Falling Action: The events and complications begin to resolve
themselves. (The events between the climax and resolution)
 Denouement (Resolution): The conclusion, the untangling of events in
the story

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 Types of Plot

Events in the story can be presented in a variety of orders:

 The chronological order: some stories begin with what happens first,
following the regular time development of events to end.
 Some stories begin at the end then lead up to why and how things
develop as they did.
 Some stories begin in the middle of things.

Flashback

This is a technique in which the author interrupts the plot of the story to tell an
incident of an earlier time (goes back in time; like giving the reader a
memory).

Foreshadowing

This is a writes’ technique in which the author provides clues or hints as to

what is going to happen later in the story.

Conflict

Conflict is the struggle between two forces in a story. The plot revolves
around thing conflict.

Types of Conflict

 Physical Conflict: Between a character and nature or the physical

world.
 Social Conflict: Between characters or between the character and
his or her society.
 Internal Conflict (Psychological Conflict): Between different
attitudes of beliefs in the character’s mind.

Setting

The setting is the place and time of the story. It also includes the circumstances of
the story, like the weather condition, the social class, etc.

Characters

The people (or animals, things, etc. presented as people) in a literary work

Types of Characters

Characters can be classified in different ways:

 Major and Minor characters

 Round and Flat characters
 Dynamic and Static characters
 Protagonist and Antagonist

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 Round and Flat Characters

 Round Characters are complex convincing, and true to life

characters. They are described in more detail, having many different
and sometimes even contradictory personality traits.
 Flat Characters are stereotyped, shallow, and often symbolic. They
have only one or two personality traits

Dynamic and Static Characters:

 Dynamic Characters undergo some type of change or development

in the story, often because of something that happens to them.
 Static Characters do not change in the course of the story.

Protagonist and Antagonist

 Protagonist: The main character in a literary work.

 Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist

Characterization

Characterization refers to the methods used by the writer to create his or her
characters.

Point of view

The angle or perspective from which the story is told (who tells the story)

The point of view is divided into two main types:

- First person point of view

- Third person point of view

First Person Point of View

The story is told from the viewpoint of one of the characters, using the first
person pronoun “I”.

The first person narrator can either be participant or nonparticipant in the

action

Third Person Point of View

The story is told using a narrator who uses third person pronouns such as
“he”, “she”, “his”, “her”, “they” etc.

Third Person Point of View can be broken up into three different types:

 Omniscient
 Limited Omniscient
 Objective

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 Omniscient Point of View:

The narrator has the power to show the reader what is happening in the minds of the
characters, their feelings and their thinking.

Limited Omniscient Point of View:

The narrator shows us inside the mind of one character.

Objective Point of view:

The story is told as if from a camera that follows the characters. Only what is said
and done is recorded.

Theme

Theme is the central idea or central message of the story. It usually contains some
insight into the human condition telling something about humans and life.

Drama

A story put into action, or a story of human life told by actual representation of
persons by persons, with imitation of language, voice, gesture, dress, and accessories or
surrounding conditions, the whole produce with reference to truth or probability, and with or
without the aid of music, dancing, painting, and decoration; a play.

Elements of Drama

 Plot - The events in play.

 Setting -Time and place of a literary work.
 Characters - People or creatures in a play.
 Dialogue - conversation in a play.
 Theme - The central thought of a play; the idea or ideas with which a play deals.
 Scenery - the various elements that are used to create a particular visual setting for
a play.

Folktale

Folktales are stories passed down by oral tradition. Though there are many varieties
of folk tales, they are commonly about regular people in everyday settings.

Elements of Folktale

 Characters (the characters are flat

 Plot
 Setting
 Theme
 Events
 Style
 Tone
 Point of View ( Often third person narrative)

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Poetry

Prose that resembles a poem in some respect, as in vivid imagery or rhythmic sound.

Elements of Poetry

 Imagery- It appeals to the senses (show don’t tell).

Ex.
 Rhythm- a regular pattern of sounds or movements.
 Sound – the rhythm goes along with the general sound as it is easy to remember.
(euphony and cacophony)
 Density- is how much is said in how little of space. The ability to use metaphor not to
conform to traditional grammar styles,

NONFICTION

The branch of literature comprising works of narrative prose dealing with or offering opinions
or conjectures upon facts and reality, including biography, history and essay.

Elements of Nonfiction

 Deals only with real people, events, or idea.

 Narrated from point of view, or perspective of the author, who is a real person.
 Nonfiction presents facts or discusses concepts.
 It may reflect historical context of the time period, including references to major social
and cultural information

Activity:

Give one example for each literary genre and tell something about it. Write your
answer in a one whole piece of paper.

References:

https://twodropsofink.com/2016/03/28/examples-of-writing-genres-the-profile-piece/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/literary-conventions-explained#what-is-the-difference-
between-literary-conventions-and-literary-devices

https://www.slideshare.net/mraiyah/elements-of-fictionppt

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