Poetry Genres Overview

Literature Overview

• Literature encompasses written works such as books, poems, and plays, reflecting human experiences and emotions.
• It is divided into two main forms: Prose and Poetry.

Poetry

• Poetry utilizes language and sound innovatively and includes various forms.
• Types of Poetry:
  • Narrative Poetry: Tells a story and includes forms like:
    • Epic: Long narrative about legendary heroes and quests.
    • Ballad: Tells a story with a repeating chorus; emotional and rhythmic.
    • Metrical Tale: Story presented in verse with structured stanzas.
  • Lyric Poetry: Expresses the speaker's thoughts and emotions, often in song form. Common forms include:
    • Ode: A formal poem praising a subject.
    • Sonnet: A 14-line poem with varied rhyme schemes.
    • Elegy: A poem mourning the loss of someone.
  • Dramatic Poetry: Meant for performance; involves characters' dialogues and includes:
    • Tragedy: Explores serious themes.
    • Comedy: Aims to entertain with humor.
    • Melodrama: Emphasizes exaggerated emotions.
    • Farce: Relies on absurd situations for comedic effect.
    • Social Tale: Addresses societal issues.

Sonnet Forms

• Petrarchan: Rhyme scheme: abba abba cde cde or abba abba cdc dcd.
• Shakespearean: Rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef gg.
• Spenserian: Rhyme scheme: abab bcbc cdcd ee.

Prose

• Prose is written in ordinary language, using complete sentences and organized paragraphs. It emphasizes plot and character development.

Fiction

• Novel: Long narrative fiction focused on detailed characters and events.
• Short Story: Concise fictional narrative, typically shorter than a novel.
• Novella: Narrative form longer than a short story, generally between 20,000 and 40,000 words.
• Fable: Brief story conveying a moral lesson, often featuring animals as characters.
• Parable: Simple story illustrating a moral or spiritual lesson.
• Legend: Traditional story rooted in historical events, often embellished with mythic elements.

Non-Fiction

• Diary: A personal record of daily events and thoughts.
• Anecdote: A short, interesting story about a real incident or person.
• Essay: A written composition exploring a specific topic or argument.

21st Century Literature

• New literary genres have emerged, reflecting contemporary experiences and technologies.

Media in Literature

• Literature can extend into various media forms:
  • Illustrated Novels: Combine text with images; significant parts of the narrative rely on visuals.
  • Digi-Fiction: Interactive fiction designed for computers, often featuring hyperlinks and multimedia elements.
  • Graphic Novels: Comic-book style storytelling, presenting complete narratives in book format.
  • Manga: Japanese comics, which read from right to left.

Example of a Sonnet

• "Sonnet 116," explores the enduring nature of true love, emphasizing that real love remains unchanged by time or circumstances.

Summary of Genres

• Literature's diversification highlights evolving cultural narratives and innovations in form and content, catering to modern audiences and technological advancements.