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INTRODUCTION
TO LITERARY
GENRES
LESSON 1
Literature – derived from the Latin
litteratura meaning “writing
formed with letters,” literature is
most commonly refers to works of
the creative imagination, including
poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction,
journalism, and in some instances,
song..
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A genre is a particular type
of literature, painting, music,
film, or other art form which
people consider as a class
because it has special
characteristics.
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Literary Genres

Poetry Non-fiction

Prose Media
Other types of Literature:
Drama Oral Literature
Graphic Novels & Comic Books

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Literary Genres
1. Poetry – prose that resembles a poem in some respect,
as vivid imagery or rhythmic sound.
They include:
● elegy - a reflective poem to honor the dead
● haiku - a seventeen-syllable poem that uses natural
imagery to express an emotion
● ode - an elevated poem that pays tribute to a person,
idea, place, or another concept
● sonnet - a descriptive fourteen-line poem with a
specific rhyme scheme
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Literary Genres
Elements of Poetry:
Imagery – it appeals to the senses
Rhythm – a regular pattern or sound or movements
Sound – the rhythm goes along with the general
sounds
Density – is how little of space . The ability to use
metaphor not to conform to traditional grammar
styles, and incorporate sounds and rhythmic.
Lines – the basic unit of poetry

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Literary Genres
2. Prose – a broader term that includes drama and non-
fiction
- defined as any kind of written text that isn’t poetry
- written in complete sentences and organized in
paragraphs
They include:
● novels ● journals
● non-fiction ● short stories
● letters
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Literary Genres
3. 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.

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Literary Genres
Elements of Drama:
Plot – the events in play
Setting – time and place of literary work
Characters – people or creatures in a play
Dialogue – conversation in a play
Theme – the central truth 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
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Literary Genres
4. Non-fiction – 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.
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Literary Genres
Elements of Non-fiction:
● 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 fact or discusses
concepts.
● It may reflect historical context of the time
period, including references to major social and
cultural information.
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Literary Genres
5. Media – has been defined as a
distinct genre for it encompasses
many new and important kinds of
texts in our present society such as
movies and films, websites,
commercials, billboards, and
radio programs. Jens Martensson 12
Literary Genres
6. Other Types of Literature:
● Oral Literature – usually taught in
the form of epic poems, plays or folk
tales. Folklore, folk tales, fables were
originally oral literature. They are short
stories meant to pass on a particular
lesson or moral.
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Literary Genres
6. Other Types of Literature:
● Graphic Novels and Comic Books –
lowest form of literature which are not
suitable or valuable for children. But times
have changed and many have come to
realize that comic books are more modern
graphic novels appealing to kids.
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Elements of the Different Genres:
1. Character – is a person, or
sometimes even an animal, who
takes part in the action of a short
story or other literary work.
2. Setting – is the time and place in
which the story happens.
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Elements of the Different Genres:
3. Plot – is a series of events
and character actions that
relate to the central conflict.
4. Theme – is the central idea
or belief in a short story.
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Elements of the Different Genres:
5. Point-of-view – is the narrator’s position
in relation to the story being told.
6. Style – refers to function of diction,
syntax, and voice style.
7. Literary Devices – includes symbolism,
humor, figurative languages and figures of
speech.
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Jens Martensson
jens@bellowscollege.com
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