SOUTHEASTERN MINDANAO B.

Introduction to Literary Genres

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Defined simply as the “art of words,”
(SMIT), INC.
literature comes in various meanings.
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Rexroth (2020) defines literature as “those
imaginative works of poetry and prose
HUMSS 6 – CREATIVE NON-FICTION distinguished by the intentions of their
authors and the perceived aesthetic
MODULE 1 excellence of their execution.” Citing the
A. Creative Non-Fiction Background 11th edition of Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary, Rexroth adds that
The banner of Creative Nonfiction defines literature are “writings having excellence of
the genre simply, succinctly, and accurately form or expression and expressing ideas of
as “true stories, well told.” permanent or universal interest.” These
In some ways, creative nonfiction is like definitions point out two important aspects
jazz—it’s a rich mix of flavors, ideas, and of literature: excellence and expression. For
techniques, some newly invented and others a work to be considered literature, it should
as old as writing itself. Creative nonfiction not simply express humankind’s thoughts,
can be an essay, a journal article, a research feelings, experiences and aspirations, but
paper, a memoir, a tweet; it can be personal should also reflect merit and brilliance of
or not, or it can be all of these. expression. Due to the depth and breadth of
literature, various academics have classified
The words “creative” and “nonfiction” it based on its different aspects such as
describe the form. The word “creative” content, technique, tone, or simply
refers to the use of literary craft, the definition. On the basis of content, literature
techniques writers use to tell stories about is divided into two major forms – fiction and
real people and events—that’s the nonfiction. As to techniques used, literature
“nonfiction” part—in a compelling, vivid, is also classified into prose and poetry.
dramatic manner. The goal is to Genre refers to a type of art, literature, or
communicate a bit of the real world—a music characterized by a distinct form,
personal experience, a scientific discovery, a content, and style. In literature, there are
history, a place, a person—in a way that will four literary genres: poetry, drama, fiction,
sing on the page, inform and change readers, and nonfiction. All these literary genres
and make an impact. The word “creative” have specific functions and features which
has been criticized in this context because distinguish one from the others.
some people think it implies the writer can
pretend or exaggerate or make up facts and As readers of literature, part of
embellish details. This is completely understanding a text is knowing to which
incorrect. It is possible to be honest and genre a material belongs since the message
straightforward and brilliant and creative at it conveys may be affected by certain
the same time. conventions. When you have mastered what
distinguishes one from the other, it is easier
“Creative” doesn’t mean inventing what to grasp what the writer is trying to tell you
didn’t happen or reporting and describing hence putting you in a better position to
what wasn’t there. It doesn’t mean that the think critically about the material you have
writer has a license to lie. The cardinal rule read.
is clear—and cannot be violated.
Different genres also have different roles. truth with some unexpected turns
Fiction, for instance, may let you into a with nonetheless satisfying
world which is totally different from ours. conclusions.
Poetry may enrich your emotional and 3. Thriller. This fiction type is
imaginative powers while drama can help characterized by dark, mysterious
improve your communicative competencies. and suspenseful plots. It rarely
Nonfiction essays can give you insights utilizes humor but highlights
about life or it may lead you to think techniques like plot twists, red
critically or persuasively about things and herrings, and cliffhangers which can
ideas around you. Whatever genre you read, keep readers guessing until the very
it is imperative that you have an end.
understanding of what delineates one from 4. Horror. Written to shock, startle,
the other for you to balance your scare, and even repulse the readers,
expectations of a particular literary work’s horror fiction creates a horrifying
distinct conventions and style. sense of dread and may include
characters like ghosts, vampires,
werewolves, witches, and monsters.
C. Fiction Horror themes may be of death,
demons, evil spirits, the afterlife, and
Fiction refers to a literary work which even fear itself.
comes from the author’s imagination. 5. Historical. This type of fiction
Through the fictional narrative, a writer may involves the creative use of research
inform, entertain, inspire, or even persuade to be able to transport readers to
(Littlehale, 2020). Fiction has three another time and place. This time
categories: realistic, non-realistic, and semi- and place may be real, imagined, or a
fiction. MasterClass (2019) classifies fiction combination of both. Some historical
into 14 different forms including the fiction may utilize characters who
following: were historical figures and use real
events in history.
1. Literary Fiction. It refers to literary 6. Romance. Created with a light-
works with artistic value and literary hearted, oftentimes optimistic tone,
merit. Political criticism, social and most often a satisfying
commentary, and reflections on conclusion, romantic fiction
humanity are most often the content highlights love stories between
of literary fiction. Contrary to plot- people.
driven works, they are typically 7. Western. Stories of this type often
character-driven, and places portray characters and setting of the
emphasis and focus on the inner western frontier like cowboys,
story of the character. outlaws, and settlers of the American
2. Mystery. Also known as detective Old West. One distinct feature of this
fiction, mystery often follows a plot form is that it relies mostly on the
with a detective as character or specific locale, culture, and language
someone playing detective and tries of that era in history.
to solve a case with a sprinkling of 8. Bildungsroman. Literally translated
clues here and there, giving the as “a novel of education” or “a novel
readers a feel for suspense, creates of formation,” this form highlights
anticipation, and ultimately bares the
 the transition or metamorphosis of a 14. Realist literature. This type of
character from youth into adulthood. fiction portrays a world very much
The transition from immaturity to like ours, with all the elements
maturity experienced by the created as truthful as it can be as it
character may involve a profound happens in our world.
loss, an insightful journey, or an
intense conflict. On the other hand, some academics also
9. Speculative fiction. This type may classify fiction into sub-genres which
be a combination of different fiction include the following:
forms like dystopian, science fiction,
and fantasy, or any other 1. Short Story. Shorter in length than a
combination. The setting may be in a novel, a short story is a fictional
world so unlike the world we live in. prose work which usually focuses on
Considered as a supergenre, writers one plot, one main character (with a
of speculative fiction have limitless few additional minor characters), and
use of the possibilities beyond the one central theme. It aims at unity of
human imagination. effect and creation of mood rather
10. Science Fiction. Classified under than on plot. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The
speculative fiction, sci-fi uses Philosophy of Composition”
elements that do not exist in the real describes a short story as one that
world. Inspired by both natural “should be read in one sitting,
science (physics, chemistry, and anywhere from a half hour to two
astronomy) and social sciences hours. In contemporary fiction, a
(psychology, anthropology, and short story can range from 1,000 to
sociology), sci-fi stories may focus 20,000 words.”
on time travel, space exploration, 2. Novel. A novel is a narrative prose
and societies of the future. work of considerable length that
11. Fantasy. Another type of speculative talks about significant human
fiction, fantasy has imaginary experience. The novel’s beginnings
characters and worlds and may have date back to as early as the writing of
influences of mythology and folklore “Tale of Genji” by Murasaki
which can be appealing to both Shikibu; later, in the early
children and adults alike. seventeenth century, European
12. Dystopian. In contrast to utopian novels came to be written (Prahl,
fiction which portrays a world better 2019). A novel is also characterized
than the one we have, dystopian by the following: (1) written in prose
fiction depicts a society that is worse form, (2) considerable length or
than ours. Dystopian fiction is also word count, (3) fictional content, and
another type of science fiction. (4) individualism; that is, it appeals
13. Magical realism. The world to an individual audience as a reader
portrayed in magical realism is rather than to a group.
similar to our real world but with 3. Myth. Derived from the Greek
added magical elements which are mythos, which has a range of
considered “natural” in which the meanings from “word,” through
story takes place. “saying” and “story,” to “fiction,” a
myth is a symbolic narrative of
 unknown origin and tells events D. the distinctive use of white space which
which are partly traditional and draws our eye into the compressed essence
associated with religious beliefs. of feelings and ideas.
Myths are specific accounts with Poems are usually shorter than novels, may
gods or superhuman beings as come in many shapes and forms, and are
characters involved in extraordinary often (but not always) divided into stanzas
events or circumstances in a time (or verses). But just like prose, poems also
that is unspecified but which is share similar features like subject (what it is
understood as existing apart from about), theme (what it says about the
ordinary human experience. subject), and a mood/feeling/tone (how the
Mythology, on the other hand, refers author feels about this or how the author
to both the study of myth and the wants the readers to feel).
body of myths belonging to a To make meaning out of poems, two broad
particular religious tradition. approaches can be used:
4. Legend. A legend is traditional tale A) Narrative poem – It tells a story with an
which is thought to have historical orientation, complication, crisis, and
bases. resolution, or
5. Fable. A fable is an instructive story B) Lyrical poem – It conveys an
about human social behaviour with experience, or ideas, thoughts or feelings
personified animals or natural about a subject without necessarily having
objects as characters and always ‘something happen.’
ends with an explicit moral message. Poems also come in many forms. These
The concept of time and space is also forms are distinguished from the other by
not specific in a fable. the choice of structural units (couplets,
quatrains, and their arrangement with the
D. Poetry overall poem), the layout of a poem on the
Poetry is a means of sharing experiences, page, and the organization of the lines of the
telling a story, or expressing feelings or poem. Here are some of them:
ideas through the use of language in a
particular way. As opposed to prose writing, 1) Acrostic. It is a poem which consists of
poetry in written form has a distinct vertical first letters name of the topic while
structure and words may form patterns of the horizontal words describe the topic.
sound, verse or thought. The creation of 2) Ballad. It is a narrative poem which tells
pictures with words is very important in a dramatic story in four-line stanza with a
poetry, hence poets carefully choose words regular beat. A ballad was originally set to
which will appeal to the imagination of the music and sung. Characterized by simplicity
readers and create vivid visual images. of language, repetition of epithets and
There are some distinctive characteristics of phrases, simple rhyming schemes (usually
poetry which sets it apart from prose: abcd, sometimes abab) and refrains, topics
are often drawn from community life, local
A. the visual patterning of lines of unequal and national history, legend and folklore;
and shorter length, while the verse tales are usually of
B. the frequent division into stanzas adventure, war, love, death and the
(verses), supernatural
C. the possibility of unusual shapes, and 3) Chant. Dating to prehistoric time, hence
one of the earliest forms of poetry, chant is a
poem of no fixed form, but in which one or 12) Haiku. Originated in Japan and often
more lines are repeated over and over. It is tells about nature, it consists of three
usually meant to be spoken aloud. unrhymed lines containing 17 syllables (5, 7,
4) Cinquain. It is a five line poem that 5) and portrays a single idea or feeling while
follows a pattern and does not rhyme. The having a strong visual imagery.
cinquain consists of five lines of 2, 4, 6, 8 13) Light verse. It is a poem that is cheerful,
and 2 syllables respectively. airy and light-hearted, it often describes
5) Comic Verse. It is a poem that involves everyday events and uses language of the
humor and makes sense. speaking voice.
6) Diamante. It is a seven line poem in 14) Limerick. This is usually brief and
which the first and last lines are opposites or lends itself to comic effects. The limerick
contrasts. It is written in the shape of a consists of three long and two short lines
diamond. rhyming aabba. Rhyme and rhythm are used
7) Elegy. It is a poem of mourning to to enhance the content.
someone’s death. 15) Lyric. Concerned with feelings and
8) Epic. It is a long narrative poem on a thoughts rather than action or narrative, it
subject which is thought to be great and usually represents and reflects on a single
serious. experience, is intensely personal, and its
9) Epigram. It is a short and pointed poem, rhythms often have a musical flexibility. It
often a witty statement in verse or prose does not have to tell a story, and is often
which may be complimentary, satiric or short (eg haiku, cinquain, shape, tongue
aphoristic. twisters, rhyming couplets, acrostic poems).
10) Epitaph. It is a poem with a short 16) Narrative. It tells a story with an
inscription carved on a tombstone (or orientation, complication and resolution eg
written with that context in mind). It usually nursery rhymes. It can be short or long,
rhymes and lends itself to imitation and serious, humorous, personal or impersonal.
distortion. While the epitaph in a cemetery is It may come in the form of allegories, fables
often serious, the form can be made or accounts of everyday events.
humorous. 17) Nonsense verse. Categorized as light
11) Free verse. It is a poetry that does not verse that has structure and rhyme and
conform to particular schemes or patterns of invented words, it is characterized by
rhyme, meter or form because it doesn’t fantastic themes, absurd images, artificial
follow strict rules it has flexibility. language and humor.
Its rhythm is created by the natural flow of 18) Nursery rhyme. Usually having regular
the poet’s thoughts and emotions. Each line rhymes, strong rhythms and repetition, it
is based on speech rhythm which is often a could be described as jingles for children,
mixture of iambic and anapestic feet forming part of the oral tradition of many
- sometimes with a regular number of countries.
stressed syllables in each line. Each line is a 19) Ode. Usually celebrating a person,
meaningful unit in its own right, and in animal or object, an ode is often written
relation to other lines. There is pattern and without the constraints of formal structure or
rhythm, though not in the traditional, regular rhyme.
form. Form is even more important to 20) Riddle. It indirectly describes a person,
free verse than to traditional verse, and it is place, thing or idea and can be any length
usually quite subtle. and usually has a rhyming scheme.
21) Song lyric. It is a poem that has been set The story may be about real-life
to music. The word ‘lyric’ comes from the characters, funny experiences in life,
Greek word lyre, a kind of harp that was or any type of fun-provoking
often used to accompany songs. situation. It may be sarcastic and
22) Sonnet. It is a lyric poem that has raunchy, light in tone and has happy
fourteen lines of five beats each. Rather than endings. Since provoking laughter is
tell a story. It usually explores a feeling or not an easy task, comedy writers
state of mind or expresses a fixed idea. It require high level of intellect and
first appeared in Italy in the 13th century. perceptive faculties to attain the
Many sonnets have an alternating rhyme desired end for a comedic
scheme and usually have a ‘turning point’ at presentation.
the eighth line. B. Tragedy. One of the oldest forms of
23) Tanka. A type of Japanese poem similar drama, tragedy exposes the plight
to haiku, it consists of five lines with the and suffering of humans to the
first and third lines usually having five audience. Common tragic themes
syllables and the others seven, making it a include ruins of a dynasty, downfall
total of 31. of man, emotional betrayals, moral
24) Villanelle. It is a fixed form, usually setback, personal loss, death, and
containing five three-line stanzas and a four- denials. A tragedy when composed
line stanza, with only two rhymes and enacted well can touch the
throughout. audience deeply. These rarely have
happy endings.
MODULE 2 C. Melodrama. This type of drama
B. Drama uses a technique marked by surge of
feelings since melodrama highlights
A drama is a composition in either verse or exaggeration of emotions. The
prose presenting a story through pantomime technique intends to make the
or dialogue. It contains conflict of character and the plot more
characters, particularly the ones who appealing to the audience although it
perform in front of the audience on the can sometimes fail to derive
stage. The person who writes drama for applause, because excessive display
stage directions is known as a “dramatist” or of emotions can become
“playwright.” The term “drama” is also used monotonous. On the other hand, a
for the type of play written for theater, superbly-executed melodramatic plot
television, radio, and film. Because of the can absorb the audience’s attention
combination of performance, music, dance, completely. This happens when it
props, and others which enable the audience effectively depicts the good and evil
to feel like a part of the action, drama is aspects of the characters involved.
considered a unique and distinctive genre of D. Musical drama. In a musical drama,
literature. the story is told through acting and
There are four distinct types of drama: dialogue, as well as through dance
and music, as well. The story may be
A. Comedy. A comedy is a type of comedic, though it may also involve
dramatic presentation which intends serious subjects.
to make the audience laugh through
well-composed humorous elements.
 Other Forms of Literary Genres QUIZ A

Diaries/Journals Instruction: (Type Written)

In a short bondpaper. Give at least 2
Diaries and journals both contain records of examples of BOOKS including the Author
experiences by its writer. A diary records for the following 14 Classifications of
events, transactions, or observations daily or Fiction, 5 types Sub-genres of Fiction, and
at frequent intervals. A journal, on the other give a short synopsis for each book. (Also
hand, contains one’s experiences, ideas and attach the cover page of the book)
reflections but not necessarily on a daily
basis.
QUIZ B

Memoirs Instruction: (Type Written)

In a short bondpaper. Create YOUR
A memoir is an author’s narrative of his or OWN composition for each of the following
her experiences, which makes it similar to Forms of Poem.
an autobiography, but with certain (EXCLUDED: Song Lyric, Villanelle,
distinguishable characteristics. In terms of Nonsense Verse, Nursery Rhyme, Acrostic,
focus, memoirs highlight what the writer has Ballad, Lyric, Epitaph, Narrative)
witnessed, more than the telling of his or her
own life, character, and developing self.
Secondly, while a memoir talks about how Literary Essay Making
one remembers one's own life, an
autobiography is history, requiring research, Literature had been given various meanings
dates, and facts double-checked. by various authors and writers from all over
the world. In the same way, humans have
Speeches also produced vast amounts of literature out
of which some had perished while some
Merriam-Webster defines speech as “the have survived and had been handed down to
communication or expression of thoughts in us. In addition to these, mankind is also
spoken words.” Although speeches are not continuously creating literature which
primary genres of literature, its significance reflects the world that we have so that the
lies in the fact that these are important present generation could also hand them
historical documents or moments and down to the next. This body of literature
literature. A formal address meant to be does not only reflect the truth but also
given to an audience, speeches can be found mirrors our aspirations, dreams, and
in prose, drama, and poetry, and their longings.
primary goals are to persuade, inform, (If you could write something for the
demonstrate, or entertain a reader, an next generation, what would it be?)
audience, or other characters. They can also
be used in nonfiction or fiction, depending *Rubrics
on their purpose and use. Some of the 10 – Correct use of language/grammar;
primary speech forms include persuasive, clarity of ideas; presence of
informational, demonstrative, special words/expressions about the aspirations,
occasion speech, and debate.
dreams and longings of man; positive views
in life
7 – Minor errors on language/grammar;
clarity of ideas; presence of
words/expressions about the aspirations,
dreams and longings of man; positive views
in life
3 – Major errors on grammar; unclear
presentation of ideas; absence of
words/expressions about the aspirations,
dreams and longings of man; views in life

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have to learn to be disciplined.” – unknown

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