MA English Literature Notes
Genres of Literature
Literature is the mirror of life. It is a broad term that includes almost everything we read, see, and hear. Form, Content, and Structure are the souls of all Literary works. In ancient time, Literature was divided into two main categories
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| MA English Literature Notes |
- Tragedy
- Comedy
Nowadays the list of possible types and genres of Literature can seem endless.
What is the Genre?
Genre is a French word that signifies literary type or kind. The literary works are divided into
These are called genres.
The various genres of literature
- Poetry
- Drama
- Novel
- Short Story
- Media
We will discuss these genres one by one :
Poetry
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| Poetry |
Poetry is considered the oldest form of literature. Poetry is a composition that has rhythm. It has a metaphorical language. A lot of people think of rhymes and counting syllables and lines when they think of poetry, and some poems follow strict forms. But other types of poetry are free from rhymes or common and metaphors and are often made up of fragments and phrases rather than complete, grammatically correct sentences.
Poetry is always written in stanzas and lines, creating a unique look on the page. Poetry differs from prose in language. It is more concrete and concise. There are many types of poems like
- Epic
- Heroic
- Lyric
- Ode
- Sonnet
- Elegy
- Balled etc
The Rape of The Lock is the best example of an Epic poem.
Paradise Lost is an example of an Epic poem.
John Keat's "Ode to Autumn" and "ode to Nightingale" are the best examples of poetry.
Drama
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| Drama |
Dramas are usually called plays. Drama is the major literary form, which is designed for performance in the theatre. In the drama, The characters speak dialogue on the stage. The writer follows some stage directions and conventions. The dramas are normally written in verse or blank verse. The dramas most commonly taught, it is only read the same way you might read a novel. Dramas are meant to be presented in front of an audience, So it is hard to fully appreciate them when looking only at pages of text. Students give a response to dramas. The drama tells the story and leaves the best message to the audience. It has a subject and theme. The actors make a gesture to convey their meaning.
- Shakespeare's Dramas like "King Lear", "Macbeth" greatly contribute to English Literature.
- Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta"
- Milton's "Samson Agonistes" are the best examples of Drama.
Novel
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| Novel |
The novel is an outstanding genre of literature. It is an extended fictional story. Some of the novels are non-fictional. Some are written in verse. Some don't tell a story. The novel doesn't follow any fixed Structure, Style, or subject matters. A novel should have at least one major character. Novels may have any kind of
- Plot
- Tragic
- Comic
- Satiric
- Romantic.
Novels have become very popular because of their flexibility. The novel tries to describe the social world. Novels are various types like
- Romantic Novels
- Historical Novels
- Social Novels
- Picaresque Novel
- Gothic Novel
- Scientific Novels etc
The Novel Gives full and suitable development of character and themes.
Media
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| Media |
The newest type of literature that has been defined as a distinct genre is media. Media includes
- Movies
- Films
- Websites
- Commercials
- Billboards
- Radio programs etc
Any work that doesn't exist primarily as a written text can be considered media, Particularly if it bases on recently developed technologies. Media literature can serve a wide variety of purposes among other things it can educate, entertain, advertise. Teaching media literacy is a great way for educators to help students become participants in their own culture.
Prose
If we know that what is poetry, it is easy to define prose. Prose can be defined as any kind of written text that isn't poetry. The most typical varieties of prose are novels and short stories, while other types include letters, diaries, Journals, and non-fiction. The prose is written in complete sentences and organized in paragraphs. Prose does not focus on the sounds, it focuses on the plot and characters.
"Jame Eyre" "Joseph Andrew", "Hard Times" "Sound of Thunder" are great examples.
Conclusion
To Sum up, we can say that literature covers a great world variety, we can not describe it in few words. We have discussed various genres of Literature, but these genres further divide into sub-genres. Through the reading of these genres. we can gain a vast knowledge of English Literature.
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