LITERATURE GENRES

I. What is Literature and what are its genres?

Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken work. The word is also
used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific
works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to works of the creative
imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction.

"English Literature." Trent University. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2016.

https://www.trentu.ca/futurestudents/degree/english-literature.

Genre (from French genre [ʒɑ̃ʁ(ә)], meaning "kind" or "sort") is any category
of literature (or other forms of art or entertainment like music). Genres are
formed by the common opinions of society, that’s why these genres can
change over time. For example, in music, some popular genres are pop, and
rock. These days, “indie” is already considered to be a genre of music, even
though “indie” used to refer to whether a group was signed to a label or if
they produced their work on their own.

In literature, there are several literature genres, too, such as non-­fiction,

drama, poetry, science fiction, fairy tales, mystery, and many others. Some of
the genres that we commonly encounter day-­to-­day are short stories, poetry,
and non-­fiction.

II. Why do I need to learn Literature?

Literature represents a language or a people's culture and tradition. One of
the reasons why we know what happened back in the days of Jose Rizal,
 Lapu-Lapu, Andres Bonifacio, and the rest of those in our past is because
there were people back then who wrote about the condition of their lives.

Nwodo, Euphemia Nkechi. "THOUGHTS ON SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERATURE STUDIES (An Essay)." Sevhage Reviews. N.p., 25 July 2015.
Web. 25 July 2016. https://sevhagereviews.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/thoughts-on-studying-literature-by-euphemia-nkechi-nwodo/.

But, literature is more important than just a historical or cultural artifact.

Literature introduces us to new worlds of experience. We are able to enjoy
the comedies and the tragedies of poems, stories, and plays; and we may
even grow as better people through our literary journey with books.

“We may discover meaning in literature by looking at what the author says
and how he/she says it. We may interpret the author's message by examining
the words he or she chooses in a given novel or work... Whatever critical
paradigm we use to discuss and analyze it, literature is important to us
 because it speaks to us, and it affects us on a deeply personal level.”
(Lombardi, Esther. "Literature." About. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.)

Watch this video to understand better why we need literature in our lives.
(Mad Adam. "What is Literature for?" Online video clip. YouTube. The School of Life, 18 Sept
2014. Web. 2 Oct. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RCFLobfqcw)

III. What do the different literature genres look like?

A. Short Stories

A short story is a “brief fictional narrative that is shorter than a novel and
that usually deals with only a few characters.” (Hansen, Arlen. "Short
story." Britannica. N.p., 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.)

It usually focuses on a single issue or a single theme, which is conveyed in

only a few scenes. Because of this, it is encouraged to use a simple setting
and a simple plot. The few scenes in a story normally follow the plot line.
Here’s how it looks like:
 Example of a Short Story
The Usual Spot by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo
Here is a short story by the talented Filipino comics writer, Budjette Tan.
He is known for the stories that he has written for the “Trese” comics.

B. Poetry

Poetry is the type of literature that expresses ideas, feelings, or tells a story
in a specific form (usually using lines and verses).

Definition of Terms
Form – the appearance of the words on the page
Line – a group of words that form one line in the poem
Verse/Stanza – a group of lines arranged together
Rhythm – the beat created by the sound of the words in a poem

Poetry Types
There are different forms that you can use if you want to write a poem.
You can see 4 of them below:

1. Ballad
– a poem that tells a story, which are often used in songs because
of their rhyme; it is often a love story, but as long as it tells a story
or narrates something that’s happened, it is considered a ballad; it
is written in four-­line stanzas

Example:

As I walked into the coffeehouse,

I spotted her sipping tea.
She looked up with her forlorn eyes,
Her sadness clear to me.

She invited me to take a seat,

She had a story to tell,
 About the day her husband left,
The day love turned to hell.

She gave him everything she had,

Her body, soul and heart,
His old habits got the best of him,
He relapsed; she fell apart.

Off he went on a bender, it seems,

A blur of drugs and drink—
When she confronted him, he said,
"Fine," and took off—just think

Of the pain it caused this woman,

Her eyes folded into her face,
Tears so sharp, bitter, and fierce
They’re salting her in place.

Yet she turns up at the coffeehouse,

Loneliness not her style,
Through those sad eyes I can tell
She’s yearning for joy, while

Dealing with the tragedy of losing

A man once very sweet,
A man now lost in his shadows,
Her sadness under his feet.

2. Free Verse
– a kind of poetry that does not always rhyme and does not have a
particular pattern included in its number of syllables of words

Example:

The Sorrow of Distances by Jaime An Lim

I rehearse the Cebuano words

For cities, mountains, oceans, continents —
what stand between us now,
the lonely distances that the heart,
nightly, when the lights go out,
 must journey in its long weary way home.
I imagine what can no longer be —
you across this kitchen table,
intently picking seeds from your grapes,
a half-moon glowing beneath your banged hair.
Suddenly my tuna sandwich turns soggy.
I clear the table. I blow my nose.
I turn the radio on. I let the hot water run.
How I miss you. There: in its terrible simplicity.
This love I hold for you — daughter, friend.
I tell myself: only a year more. A year.
And then the familiar whirlwind of your arms,
the bright leap of your laughter.
Will you still be there for me?
Or will you have grown beyond my reach?
Standing
in the doorway,
demure
as a lady,
solemn
as a caryatid
bearing
the burden
of a new world,
your wrists
weighed down
By the bracelets of the years?

3. Spoken Word Poetry

– poetry intended for onstage performance, rather than exclusively
designed for being read off of a page

Examples:

Postcards by Sarah Kay

Postcards ni Sarah by Juan Miguel Severo

 4. Lyric
– a poem that expresses personal and emotional feelings

Example:

It was in June you passed me by

It was in June you caught my eye
Soon we were meeting both day and night
The days suddenly seemed filled with light
It was all so sudden, a short tryst I thought
But your heart and soul it seemed I had caught

No, there are no regrets since you walked my way

No, there are no regrets since we met that day

Those cheesy walks along the beach still fill my mind

Those cheesy lines you always managed to find
Only you could get away with such things
But happiness and joy you seemed to bring
A holiday in the sun went by in a dream
Moving in seemed the logical thing

No, there are no regrets since you walked my way

No, there are no regrets since we met that day

Who would have known what lay behind the door

Who would have thought we would soon be no more
When you departed you left a hole too big to fill
Even after these many years I miss you still
Although I have moved on, I still feel you near
Sending me your best, and filling me with cheer

No, there are no regrets since you walked my way

No, there are no regrets since we met that day

C. Creative Non-fiction
Non-­fiction is the type of literature that is based on real events. They
aren’t made up by the author. When stories or written work are based on
things that the writer has imagined, then that is considered as fiction.
Characteristics of Non-­fiction Work
Non-­fiction writing involves real people, places, and events. They must be
factual because the the stories told in non-­fiction work are true. If even
just a small detail in the story or the work is made-­up, then it falls under
fiction. There are many ways a writer can organize the facts they get or find
to be able to accomplish the particular purpose that the work aims for.

Usually the purpose of non-­fiction writing is to inform, but this doesn't

mean that non-­fiction is all boring facts. A lot of non-­fiction work is actually
very entertaining! Some written work are about the opinions of the writer.
Because these opinions are based on true and real-­life situations, then
they are still considered non-­fiction.

Types of Non-fiction
1. Literary non-­fiction –­non-­fiction writing that reads like fiction. It has
the elements of fiction in it (like characters, setting, and plot), but in
this case, they are not made up or imaginary. Some example include
biographies, autobiographies, and essays.
2. Informative non-­fiction –­its purpose is to explain an idea or
concept. The writer is more straightforward in providing the
information. This type includes news articles and interviews.
IV. How do I write literature using these genres?
A. Short Stories
Watch this video from the YouTube channel sreehari sreelekha for a quick
summary on the features of a short story so you will be able to write one,
too.
(sreehari sreelekha. "How to Write a Story for kids." YouTube. N.p., 15 Feb. 2014. Web. 9
Oct. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFWcSnRIAmc)

We tell short stories almost every day! Whenever you are sharing
something that has happened to you to your friends, you are already
coming up with a short story of your own. Our own stories are usually
made up of the same characters—yourself, your friends, your family, or
people that you encounter daily.

The setting is often in school, at home, during lunch break, during your
commute, over dinner, or when you are enjoying your free time.

Holman, Adrian. "Impartations of Wisdom: Guarding Your Counsel." Heart and Soul. N.p., 15 Oct. 2014. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://heartandsoulezine.com/impartations-wisdom-guarding-counsel/>.

Have you ever asked yourself why you share stories with your friends?
Most of the time we share interesting or out-­of-the-­blue occurrences. The
things that happen in the stories you share is your plot.
 Sometimes we let others know of things that happen in our lives because
they are funny, sad, or generally entertaining in some way. A well-­written
short story does exactly that—it entertains.

Anderson, Mark. "Poetry Cartoon #2103." Andertoons. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
<https://www.andertoons.com/poetry/cartoon/2103/i-dont-understand-it-just-shouldnt-be-this-hard-to-write-haiku>.

B. Poetry
If you are finding it difficult to write your own poem, here are some
techniques that you can apply so that your poem will have better rhythm,
rhyme, or beat.
1. Alliteration
- You can put words together that have the same INITIAL
sound

Poetry Example:
 Betty Botter by Mother Goose

Betty Botter bought some butter,

but, she said, the butter’s bitter;
if I put it in my batter
it will make my batter bitter,
but a bit of better butter
will make my batter better.
So she bought a bit of butter
better than her bitter butter,
and she put it in her batter
and the batter was not bitter.
So it was better Betty Botter
bought a bit of better butter.

2. Hyperbole / Exaggeration
- You can exaggerate how you describe your subject / topic

Poetry Example:

A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky

I’m making a pizza the size of the sun,

a pizza that’s sure to weigh more than a ton,
a pizza too massive to pick up and toss,
a pizza resplendent with oceans of sauce.

I’m topping my pizza with mountains of cheese,

with acres of peppers, pimentos, and peas,
with mushrooms, tomatoes, and sausage galore,
with every last olive they had at the store.

My pizza is sure to be one of a kind,

my pizza will leave other pizzas behind,
my pizza will be a delectable treat
that all who love pizza are welcome to eat.

The oven is hot, I believe it will take

a year and a half for my pizza to bake.
I hardly can wait till my pizza is done,
my wonderful pizza the size of the sun.
3. Simile
- You can compare your subject to what it is similar to. Use the
words “as” or “like” when comparing the subject to
something.
- An example of a simile using “like”: Our house is like a circus.
There are plenty of people in it and everyone is so
unpredictable.
- An example of a simile using “as”: Our home is as crazy as a
circus, because there’s too many people in it and you can
never tell what they’re going to do next.

Poetry Examples:

Stars by Natasha Neimi

They are like flashlights in the night sky;

God’s little helpers guiding us on our journeys.
Stars are as bright as a lighthouse on an icy, ocean night;
they are like guardians committed to bringing you home.

Sadness Is… by Stacy Zeiger

As bleak as the sky when it’s cloudy and gray

As rough as the sea on a windy day
As tough as the skin on an elephant's trunk
As stinky as the smell of an angry skunk
As dark as the sky on a starless night
And it stings just as much as an animal's bite.

4. Metaphor
- You can use direct or implied comparisons. Metaphors are
like similes, but the comparison is implied and it is not to be
taken literally.
- Some examples:
- Our house is a circus.
- Time is money.
 - You are my sunshine.
- The path of resentment is easier to travel than the
road to forgiveness.

Poetry Example:

Love Is by Jessica

Love is a walk in the rain at night,

Two hands, holding onto each other tight;
Love is honey on a pair of lips,
Onto a tender heart it drips;
Love is a soft and gentle touch;
Your heart, a child's hand may clutch,
Love is a song that stains the air,
Dead or not, it's always there;
Love is both the sun and moon,
Across the sky, like stars, it's strewn;
Love is a tree of abundant fruit,
Giving and serving with every new shoot;
Love is a document, faithful and strong,
To one another, now do you belong;
Love is a river that rages with passion,
Finding ways to calm pools no matter the fashion.
Fogarty, Mignon. "Examples of Onomatopoeia." Quick and Dirty Tips. N.p., 14 Jan. 2015. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/examples-of-onomatopoeia>.

5. Onomatopoeia
- You can use words that imitate the sound they are
naming—words that sound like what they mean. Notice the
words used below: bells, tinkle, tintinnabulation, jingling,
twinkle, tinkling

Poetry Example:

The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe

Hear the sledges with the bells-

Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
 From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

6. Refrain
- You can use a sound, word, phrase, or line that is repeated
regularly in the poem.

Poetry Example:
The poem which was used as an example for LYRIC poetry also uses a refrain –
“No, there are no regrets since you walked my way / No, there are no regrets
since we met that day”

C. Creative Non-fiction
Here are some examples of popular creative non-fiction that you can learn
to write for yourself.

1. Listicles
A "listicle" is a blended word that combines the words "list" and
"article". Listicles are commonly found on the Internet as a direct
and simple method of delivering news and features, because the
information is written as a list. These kinds of articles will normally
include a number in its title, for example: "7 Yummy Sandwiches You
Can Make in Just 15 Minutes" or "10 Most Popular Love Teams of
2015".

They usually begin with an introduction so that the topic can be

presented to the readers, then the list will come next. An
explanation usually accompanies each number on the list. At the
end is a short conclusion to tie it all up.

You will find some samples of Listicles here.

"Tutorial – Mailing Lists: How to Find the Right Mailing List." McCarthy and King. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.mccarthyandking.com/direct-marketing-tutorials/learning-mailing-lists>.

2. How-­To Articles
A “how-­to” article is a type of non-­fiction writing that literally
teaches someone how to do something. The title may be
straightforward like “How To Edit A Photo Using A Smartphone App”.
The title can also refer to giving instructions, for example, “An Easy
Guide To Making A Yummy Corned Beef Sandwich”.

These are also written with an introduction, followed by the steps

or the instructions, then of course, it is finished with a short
conclusion.

Here is an example of a how-­to article.

3. Biographies and Autobiographies

A biography is a story of a person’s life, written by someone else. An
autobiography, on the other hand, is a person’s account of their
own life.

It can contain almost anything about a person, and the content will
differ depending on how long the biography is meant to be. The
 content of a biography that is meant to be 3 paragraphs long, will
definitely be different from a biography that is meant to be as long
as a novel.

A short biography is better off starting with basic facts about the
subject, like the date of birth (and death, if the person has already
passed away), major achievements, education, work facts, and what
makes this person significant. Determining what makes your subject
significant does not always revolve around an achievement like an
award. More often than not, it is something that they have done for
other people, where the lives of those around them have improved
thanks to them.

Check out this example of an autobiography written by a student.

You can also find an example of a biography in the Macmillan
Worksheet found below under the Additional Resources.

V. Additional Resources
Poetry Activities
Other than your activity in this course, “Roll With My Rhyme”, there are other
poetry writing activities here that you can try if you want to get used to
making poems. Try them out here.

What is included in a biography?

This is short but helpful article that can guide you in writing a biography of
any length.

Biography Worksheet from Macmillan

This is an open source worksheet from Macmillan Publishers. If you need a
template to help guide you in writing a biography or an autobiography, this
worksheet is a good place to start. There is also a sample found on the last
two pages.

High School Creative Writing Activities

 When we end up having writer's block, it can get pretty
frustrating—particularly when you are in the mood to write something!
When this happens, you can check out the writing prompts from this website
to get some inspiration on what to write about. Even when you aren't
plagued by writer's block, trying out some of the writing activities here will
definitely help you improve your skills.

Crossing The Great Divide—Writing In Different Genres

If you aren't sure which genre might be best for you, check this out to get
some insight on what it's like for writers who use different literature genres.
Who knows? Maybe other genres like science fiction or commentaries are
the ones best for you!

Writing Strategy Guide

Remember this writing guide from your Reading and Writing course? You can
use the same strategies mentioned here to help you write your works of
literature. Feel free to go to the WIKI on the Writing Process as well.

VI. Cited Resources

Daker, Abi. "New York City Skyline by Abi Daker." Abidaker.tumbler.com. N.p.,
2015. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://abidaker.tumblr.com/post/123439808806/adoresimply-new-york-city
-skyline-by-abi-daker>.

Hansen, Arlen. "Short story." Britannica. N.p., 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 13 Oct.
2015. <http://www.britannica.com/art/short­story>

Itsnot42. “Juan Miguel Severo - Postcards ni Sarah Kay.” Online video clip.
YouTube. N.p., September 2, 2014. Web. October 12, 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJVl-JLDUyI>.

Janovsky, Angela. "What Is Nonfiction? ­Definition & Examples." Study. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
<http://study.com/academy/lesson/what­is­nonfiction­definition­examples.html
>.
Jessica. "Love Is." Family Friend Poems. N.p., Feb. 2015. Web. 12 July 2017.
<https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/love-is-4>.

Lim, Jaime An. "The Sorrow of Distances." Philippine Literatures: texts,

themes, approaches. Ed. Augusto Antonio Aguila, Joyce Arriola, and John Jack
Wigley. Manila City: UST Publishing House, 2008. Print.

Lombardi, Esther. "Literature." About. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

<http://classiclit.about.com/od/literaryterms/g/aa_whatisliter.htm>.

Maggie. "A Pizza the Size of the Sun." Life in a Skillet. N.p., 8 Apr. 2011. Web.
15 Oct. 2015.
<http://lifeinaskillet.com/2011/04/a-pizza-the-size-of-the-sun/>.

"Metaphor Examples." Ereading Worksheets. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2017.

<http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/figurative-language/figurative-langua
ge-examples/metaphor-examples/>.

Nana. "Alliteration Examples for Kids: Alliteration Poems, Tongue Twisters,

Cliches." Nana's Corner. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.nanascorner.com/alliteration­examples­kid­alliterationpoems­tong
ue­twisters­cliches/>.

Neimi, Natasha. "Simile Poems." My Word Wizard. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July
2017. <http://www.mywordwizard.com/simile-poems.html>.

"New York City Skyline At Sunset HD Wallpaper for 2880x1800."

HDwallpapers.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
<https://www.hdwallpapers.net/wallpapers/new-york-city-skyline-at-sunset-
wallpaper-for-2880x1800-60-688.htm>.

Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Bells." All Poetry. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
<http://allpoetry.com/The-Bells>.
"Poetry Month." The Teacher's Guide. N.p., 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.theteachersguide.com/poetrymonth.htm>.

"Poetry Through The Ages." Web Exhibits. N.p., 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.webexhibits.org/poetry/explore_famous_ballad_make.html>.

Speakeasynyc. “Sarah Kay performs "Postcards".” Online video clip. YouTube.

N.p., April 9, 2011. Web. October 12, 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWPx9UyEdYw>.

sreehari sreelekha. "How to Write a Story for kids." YouTube. N.p., 15 Feb.
2014. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFWcSnRIAmc>.

Tan, Budjette, and Kajo Baldisimo. Stories from the Diabolical. Pasay City:
Visprint, Inc., 2013. 19-36. Print.

"What is a Lyric?." Young Writers. N.p., n.d. Web 15 Oct. 2015.

<https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/types-lyric>.

"What Is Included in a Biography?" YourDictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July

2017.
<http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/what-is-included-in-a-b
iography.html>.

Zeiger, Stacy. "Simile Poems for Kids." Love To Know. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July
2017. <http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Simile_Poems_for_Kids>.