Different Literary Forms and Genres

Different Literary Genres and Forms Fiction Genres:

Fairy Tales Literary genre that is a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures. Fantasy Literary genre that is an imaginative or fanciful work, esp. one dealing with supernatural or unnatural events or characters Folktales. Literary genre that is a tale or legend originating and traditional among a people or folk, especially forming part of the oral tradition of the common people. Any belief or story passed on traditionally, especially one considered to be false or based on superstition. Fable Literary genre that is a brief allegorical narrative, in verse or prose, illustrating a moral thesis or satirizing human beings. The characters of a fable are usually animals who talk and act like people while retaining their animal traits. Adventure Literary genre pertaining to an exciting or very unusual experience, participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises, a bold, usually risky undertaking, or hazardous action of uncertain outcome. Nonfiction Genres: -a vast category that is a type of prose and includes many different sub-genres. Non-fiction can be creative, such as the personal essay, or factual, such as the scientific paper. It is to tell a story (hence the autobiography), but most of the time the purpose is to pass on information and educate the reader about certain facts, ideas, and/or issues. Informational Literary genre that is intended for teaching and related informational purposes primarily intended to educate rather than entertain. Biography Literary genre that is a written account of another person’s life or the reconstruction in print or on film, of the lives of real men and women. Autobiography Literary genre that is a history of a person’s life written or told by that person or an individual’s interpretation of his own life.

The main and the most commonly known genres and forms of literature are:  Poetry 

Drama

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Prose

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Nonfiction

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Media

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Folktales

Poetry This is often considered the oldest form of literature. Before writing was invented, oral stories were commonly put into some sort of poetic form to make them easier to remember and recite. Poetry today is usually written down, but is still sometimes performed. Types of Poetry 

Lyric Poetry - is a comparatively short, non-narrative poem in which a single speaker presents a state of mind or an emotional state.

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Narrative Poetry - gives a verbal representation, in verse, of a sequence of connected events, it propels characters through a plot.

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Descriptive Poetry - is poetry in which it is not imaginative passion that prevails, but a didactic purpose or even something of the instinct of a sublimated auctioneer. In other words, the landscape, architecture, still life or whatever may be the object of the poet's attention, is not used as an accessory, but is itself the centre of interest.

Prose Can be defined as any kind of written text that isn’t poetry (which means drama). The most typical varieties of prose are novels and short stories, while other types include letters, diaries and journals. Prose is written in complete sentences and organized in paragraphs. Instead of focusing on sound, which is what poetry does, prose tends to focus on plot and characters. Dramas Are usually called plays. Story or situation which usually presents some sort of conflict. Media The newest type of literature that has been defined as a distinct genre. This categorization was created to encompass the many new and important kinds of texts in our society today, such as movies and films, websites, commercials, billboards, and radio programs. Any work that doesn’t exist primarily as a written text can probably be considered media, particularly if it relies on recently developed technologies.