Literature : Genre, Categories

Elements, and Types

Angilly C. Librea, LPT, MAEd-ELT

Overview of the lessons:
 Let’s watch the following videos first:
Mining literature for deeper meanings - Amy E.
Harter.mp4
 The Major Genres of Literature

L it e r a t u r e

P ro s e P o e try D ra m a
CATEGORIES OF PROSE
 Fiction

1. Can tell about things that could happen

2. Is read for fun
3. Characters may be like real people or
imaginary
 Non-Fiction
1. Has facts that can be checked and proven
2. The author is an expert on this information.
Prose is the most typical form of language and it
is derived from the Latin word prosa which
literally means 'straight-forward’

It is like talking to someone in a straight- forward

manner and not in a sing-song or poetic way.

This means that anything you say or write in prose

is presented in a straight- forward manner. For
instance, this course material is presented in prose.
There is usually no effort to present prose in
any particular or special structure.

This lack of formal structure makes it to be

adopted as the general mode of communication
in many formal and informal presentations like
the: spoken dialogue, speeches, factual, topical
and fictional writing.

This means that most of the books you read

are presented in prose and that you also talk in
prose form.
However, in prose the writer does not just present
words whether they make sense or not.

Words in prose are arranged in correct sentences and

in a logical sequence for a meaningful understanding of
the intended communication.

 In view of this, Samuel Taylor Coleridge insists in his

definition of prose and poetry that;
“prose is —words in their best order;
poetry,—the best words in their best order.”
(Quoted in Hall :62).
Fiction is derived from the Latin word fictum
which means “created”.

Fiction is therefore any form of narrative which

deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not
factual, but rather, are imaginary and invented by
its author.
What then is prose fiction?

It is fictional work that is presented in a

narrative form.

Fiction and narrative are words that distinguish

prose fiction from any other form of narrative or
fictional work.

For instance, drama is fiction but it is presented

in dialogue and not narrative.
 Types of prose fiction
• Novella: A work of fiction between 20,000 and 49,999 words is
considered a novella.
• is the longest of the short fiction forms, granting writers freedom
for an expanded story, descriptions, and cast of characters, but
still keeping the condensed intensity of a short story. 
• Novel - is a narrative work of prose fiction that tells a story about
specific human experiences over a considerable length. It’s about
50,000 words or more (about 170+pages). Prose style and length,
as well as fictional or semi-fictional subject matter, are the most
clearly defining characteristics of a novel. Unlike works of epic
poetry, it tells its story using prose rather than verse; unlike short
stories, it tells a lengthy narrative rather than a brief selection.
There are, however, other characteristic elements that set the
novel apart as a particular literary form.
Types of Novels
•Types of Novels - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes 
•Science Fiction and Fantasy - Lord of the Rings series, The
Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter
•Horror/thriller novels -  The Count of Monte Cristo (a revenge
thriller) and Heart of Darkness (a psychological/horror thriller).
More contemporary examples might be the novels of Stephen
King.
•Romance
•Historical Fiction – A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
•Realist Fiction -  Some of the best-known realist authors
include Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Honoré de Balzac, Anton
Chekov, and George Eliot.
• Novelette: is any short, fictional work of prose
narrative.  Novelettes have a lower number of words than a
novel or novella, but a higher word count than other forms of
prose fiction like short stories or microfiction. Despite lacking
the page count of a full-length novel, novelettes generally tell
a complete story. Some people refer to novelettes as “long
short stories” or “short novellas.”
Example: The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
(1839)

• Epic: in its most specific sense is a genre of classical poetry

originating in Greece. It contains long catalogs of heroes or
important characters, focusing on highborn kings and great
warriors rather than peasants and commoners.
Example: Iliad and the Odyssey; The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf
 There are two different types of fiction
– Commercial Fiction- Written and published primarily to
make money, and it makes money because it helps large
numbers of people escape the boring and stressful
living.

– Literary Fiction- Written by someone with serious

artistic intentions who hopes to broaden, deepen, and
sharpen the reader’s awareness of life.
Plunges the reader more deeply into the real world,
enabling us to understand life’s difficulties and to
empathize with others.
 Elements of prose Fiction
• Characters: imaginary people or animals in a story

• Plot: series of events in a story

• Setting: time and place in which a story is set

• Point of View: vantage point from which a story is

told

• Theme: universal message about life

 Elements of Nonfiction
• Nonfiction: about real people, events, or ideas

• Point of view: told from the perspective of the

author presents: facts and ideas

• Historical context: may include information about

the society and culture of the time
Prose
Types of Poetic Forms

Blank verse. Blank verse is poetry written with

a precise meter—almost always iambic
pentameter—that does not rhyme.

Rhymed poetry. In contrast to blank verse,

rhymed poems rhyme by definition, although
their scheme varies.

Free verse poetry is poetry that lacks a

consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or
musical form. Learn more
Epics. An epic poem is a lengthy, narrative work of
poetry. These long poems typically detail
extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from
a distant past.
Narrative poetry. Similar to an epic, a narrative poem
tells a story. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and Samuel Taylor
Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
exemplify this form.

Haiku. A haiku is a three-line poetic form originating in

Japan. The first line has five syllables, the second line
has seven syllables, and the third line again has five
syllables.
Haiku sample: Summer’s gone
The leaves fell slowly
The leaves fell slow-ly

To the unforgiving ground

To the un-for-giv-ing ground

Too soon – summer’s gone!

Too soon – sum-mer’s gone!
Sonnet. A sonnet is a 14 line poem, typically (but not
exclusively) concerning the topic of love. Sonnets
contain internal rhymes within their 14 lines; the exact
rhyme scheme depends on the style of a sonnet.

Elegies. An elegy is a poem that reflects upon death or

loss. Traditionally, it contains themes of mourning,
loss, and reflection. However, it can also explore
themes of redemption and consolation.

Ode. Much like an elegy, an ode is a tribute to its

subject, although the subject need not be dead—or
even sentient, as in John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian
Urn”.
Limerick. A limerick is a five-line poem that consists of a
single stanza, an AABBA rhyme scheme, and whose
subject is a short, pithy tale or description.

Lyric poetry. Lyric poetry refers to the broad category

of poetry that concerns feelings and emotion. This
distinguishes it from two other poetic categories: epic
and dramatic.
Ballad. A ballad (or ballade) is a form of narrative verse
that can be either poetic or musical. It typically follows
a pattern of rhymed quatrains. From John Keats to
Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Bob Dylan, it represents a
melodious form of storytelling.
Soliloquy. A soliloquy is a monologue in which a
character speaks to him or herself, expressing inner
thoughts that an audience might not otherwise know.
Soliloquies are not by definition poems, although they
often can be—most famously in the plays of William
Shakespeare.
Villanelle. A nineteen-line poem consisting of five
tercets and a quatrain, with a highly specified internal
rhyme scheme. Originally a variation on a pastoral, the
villanelle has evolved to describe obsessions and other
intense subject matters, as exemplified by Dylan
Thomas, author of villanelles like “Do Not Go Gentle
Into That Good Night.”
 Categories of Drama
Drama was broadly categorized into three different forms: opera,
pantomime, and creative drama.
Opera: this form was accepted warmly during the Renaissance
period due to its versatility. Theater and music were in perfect
harmony, and the actors displayed exceptional acting and singing
skills.
Pantomimes: These were composed keeping the theme of folk
tales as the primary element, and symbolism occupied a prominent
position. It was organized in the form of masques, where
characters wore elaborate costumes and makeup.
Creative drama: It is the modern version of drama, which was
popularized mostly by youngsters, possessing innate acting skills.
Stage shows and theaters were organized in schools and colleges,
which provided a platform for students to exhibit their talent
 Types of Drama
a. Comedy
– Parody - a form of satire that imitates the characteristic style of a
particular writer, musician, artist, speaker or genre using deliberate
exaggeration for a comic effect.
– Satire - the use of humor, ridicule, irony or exaggeration to make fun of
or expose and criticize a person’s vices or lack of intelligence.
– Farce - a type of comedy which uses improbable situations, physical
humor (slapstick) and silliness to entertain.
b. Tragedy
c. Tragicomedy
d. Melodrama
Different kinds of imagery in creative
writing
Visual – something that is concrete and can be
seen

Broken hula-hoops, hollow blocks, and tires

are crowded atop a thatched roof.
Auditory– something that you can hear
through your mind’s ears.

The pattering of the rain is heard against the

window pane.
Olfactory– something that you can smell
through your mind’s nose.

The aroma of freshly baked Colombian coffee

wafted into the entire room.
Gustatory – something that you can taste
through your mind’s tongue.

I endured the pungent taste of unripe bananas

Tactile – something that you can touch
through your mind’s skin.

The soft velvety feel of silk and satin caressed

my skin.
Thermal – something that depicts the
temperature.

A sudden gush of December wind breezed

against my face, reminding me of Christmas.
Erotic – something that suggests sensation
and feeling

I shuddered and felt a tingling sensation as his

warm breath heaved through my nape.
 Figurative Language
is also called figures of speech.
It changes the literal meaning of words
• to express complexity,
• to capture a physical or sensory
effect, or
• to extend meaning.
There are a number of
figures of speech.
Some of the more common ones are:
 Simile
Making a comparison between unlike
things, using “like” or “as.”
Forrest Gump’s famous simile is
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never
know what you’re gonna get.”
 Metaphor
Making a comparison between unlike things
without the use “like” or “as.”

An example is, “Your eyes are the windows

to your soul.” – Immanuel Kant.
 Hyberbole
An exaggeration.
I told you a million times to be quiet.
You never speak to me.
The teacher gave us tons of work.
He ate a thousand pounds of pizza.
 Personification
Giving human qualities to an animal,
thing or idea.
The wind screamed my name.
The window flew open.
The book jumped out of my locker.
 Irony
• is a literary device for conveying
meaning by saying the exact opposite
of
what is really meant.
• Sarcasm is one kind of irony. It is praise
which is really an insult
Sarcasm generally involves malice, the
desire to put someone down, for
example
“This is my brilliant son who failed
out of college.”
 Onomatopoeia
• is the imitation of natural sounds in word
form. These words help us form mental
pictures, or visualize, things, people, or places
that are described. Sometimes a word names
a thing or action by copying the sound.
Example: Bong! Hiss Buzz!
 Alliteration
• is the repetition of the initial consonant.
There should be at least two repetitions
in a row.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled
peppers.
The first letter, p, is a consonant. Its sound
is repeated many times.
 Oxymoron
• seemingly contradictory phrase
honest politician
friendly divorce
gentle giant
organized chaos
prepared impromptu
 Antithesis
• an exact opposite or the juxtaposition of
contrasting ideas

I have never saved a book, but books have

saved me.

He didn’t speak many words, but the words

he spoke, spoke volumes
 Pun
• a play on words

John didn’t understand fractions, so his math

teacher summed up fractions for him.
God knows HUDAS (who does) not pay
 Allusion
• a reference to a famous person, place,
event, art work, song, character, etc.
He is the Goliath of charm.
(a reference to the Bible and a metaphor)
You are my waterloo.
Rhetorical Question
• a question that is not meant to be
answered, but forces listeners to think
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
(Romans 8:31)
Reference:

Lacia, F., & Ganong, G.( 2003.) The literature of the world.
Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store.

Poetry (16 June 2020). Retrieved from

https://www2.anglistik.uni-
freiburg.de/intranet/englishbasics/PDF/Poetry.pdf

Valt, G. (2007). The history of world literature: Part I.

Virginia, USA: The Teaching Company.