Genre Terms

Genre A category or type of literature

commonly divided into three major categories:

poetry, prose, drama

Prose Ordinary form of written

language, not poetry, drama, or song, found in fiction and nonfiction

Poetry

Major genre, use highly concise, musical and emotionally charged language, also uses imagery, figurative language, rhyme, lines, stanzas, rhythmical patterns

Drama Story written to be performed

by actors, the script is made of dialogue and stage directions

Fiction Prose writing that tells about

imaginary characters and events, applies to novels, short stories, dramas, narrative poetry

Non-Fiction Prose that explains ideas or

tells about real people, places, objects, or events, includes essays, newspaper, magazine articles, journals, travelogues, biographies, autobiographies, historical, scientific, technical, political, philosophical

Short Story

A brief work of fiction, one main character faces a conflict that is resolved in the plot of the story

Novel A long work of fiction, may

explore multiple characters in conflict, multiple subplots, and several themes

Biography

Nonfiction where the writer tells the life story of another person

Autobiography

Nonfiction where a person tells his or her own life story.

Essay

A short nonfiction work about a particular subject, 4 types: narrative, expository, persuasive, visual