CLASS 2

PROFESSOR NORA TORNES

 GENRES OF
LITERATURE
A literary genre refers to the traditional
divisions of literature of various kinds
according to a particular criteria of writing
● Literary techniques
● Literary figures
● Literary by country, language, or cultural
group.
● Literary criticism
● Themes in literature
 GENRES OF LITERATURE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ORIGIN STYLE AND GENRE
Genre originates from the
Style means the characters or features of the work of a
French word meaning kind
single person or individual. However, the genre is the
or type. As a literary
classification of those words into broader categories such as
device, genre refers to a
modernist, postmodernist or short fiction and novels, and so
form, class, or type of
on
literary work.

PRIMARY
SYNONYMS EXAMPLES
A few close meanings are category,
FORMS
Poetry, Drama, and Prose It is like an implied social
class, group, classification, grouping, contract between writers
head, heading, list, set, listing, and and their readers.
categorization.
 POETRY
Poetry is the most intense form
Sub-Genres of Poetry of writing. It allows a writer to
•Songs and Ballads
•Lyric express his or her deepest
•Epic
•Dramatic emotions and thoughts in a very
•Narrative personal way. It relies heavily on
figurative language, rhythm, and
imagery to relay its message to
readers.
 DRAMA
Drama is a literary work written
Sub-Genres of Drama to be performed in front of an
•Tragedy
•Comedy audience. It contains dialogue,
•History
•Melodrama and actors impersonate the
•Musica
characters. It is usually divided
into acts or scenes, and relies on
props or imaginative dialogue to
create a visual experience for
the audience.
 PROSE
Prose is the most common form of writing.
Fiction Nonfiction
It is not restricted by rhythm or dialogue,
and it most closely resembles everyday
speech. It is usually straightforward, and Sub-Genres of
Sub-Genres of
Fiction may utilize figurative language, dialogue, Nonfiction
• Novel • Autobiography
characters, and imagery. • Biography
• Novella
• Short Story • Essay
• Myths and • Diaries and
Legends Journals
• Fables • Narrative
Nonfiction
 EXAMPLE 1
 The Color Purple by Alice Walker

All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to

fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my
uncles. A girl child ain’t safe in a family of men. But I
never thought I’d have to fight in my own house. She let
out her breath. I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do.
But I’ll kill him dead before I let him beat me.

ANSWER: FICTION
 EXAMPLE 2
 Macbeth by William Shakespeare

,
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

ANSWER: DRAMA OR PLAY

 EXAMPLE 3
A Word to Husbands by Ogden Nash

To keep your marriage brimming

With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.

ANSWER: POETRY