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Questions and Answers
What does the word 'genre' mean in literature?
Which of the following is NOT one of the four main literary genres?
Why are genres important in literature?
What do all genres of literature have in common?
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How do literary genres differ from movie genres?
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What distinguishes lyric poetry from narrative poetry?
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What is a defining characteristic of epic poetry?
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Which type of literature is primarily about real things, people, events, and places?
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In what way does fiction differ from nonfiction?
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What distinguishes drama as a type of literature from other genres?
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Study Notes
Literary Genres
- Genre definition in literature refers to a category of artistic work with specific form or characteristics.
- The four main literary genres are poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama.
Poetry as a Genre of Literature
- Poetry is rhythmic writing meant to express or elicit an emotional response.
- Characteristics of poetry:
- Usually shorter in length than other genres.
- Often draws heavily on imagery and figurative language.
- Arranged in lines and stanzas.
- Some poetry follows rules regarding syllable count, while others are free verse.
- May follow rhyming patterns, but not a requirement.
Sub-Genres of Poetry
- Lyric poetry expresses emotions rather than telling a story.
- Examples: sonnets, such as those by William Shakespeare.
- Narrative poems tell stories in poetic form.
- Examples: epic poetry, such as The Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.
Fiction as a Literary Genre
- Fiction is a genre of literature that consists of invented stories.
- Characteristics of fiction:
- Written in prose, not organized in a formal pattern like poetry.
- Sub-genres include novels, short stories, fables, legends, folk tales, and fairy tales.
- Examples: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Harry Potter series, The Shining, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Nonfiction as a Category of Literature
- Nonfiction is a genre that explores real things, people, events, and places.
- Characteristics of nonfiction:
- Written in prose.
- Sub-genres include biographies, autobiographies, essays, newspaper articles, journals, and personal diaries.
- Examples: biographies of George Washington, books about the planet Mars, and The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.
Drama as a Type of Literature
- Drama is a story written to be performed for an audience.
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Description
Explore the different types of literary genres in literature, including poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction. Understand the unique characteristics and forms that define each genre.
