ABULOG, JHAMAE ROSE M.
GE E3
BSED – SOCIAL STUDIES 3 Prof. Lynitte Quenga
THE Main Literary Genres
1. Literary Fiction. Literary fiction novels are considered works
with artistic value and literary merit. They often include political
criticism, social commentary, and reflections on humanity. Literary
fiction novels are typically character-driven, as opposed to being plot-
driven, and follow a character’s inner story.
2. Mystery. Mystery novels, also called detective fiction, follow a
detective solving a case from start to finish. They drop clues and
slowly reveal information, turning the reader into a detective trying to
solve the case, too. Mystery novels start with an exciting hook, keep
readers interested with suspenseful pacing, and end with a satisfying
conclusion that answers all of the reader’s outstanding questions.
3. Thriller. Thriller novels are dark, mysterious, and suspenseful
plot-driven stories. They very seldom include comedic elements, but
what they lack in humor, they make up for in suspense. Thrillers keep
readers on their toes and use plot twists, red herrings,
and cliffhangers to keep them guessing until the end.
4. Horror. Horror novels are meant to scare, startle, shock, and
even repulse readers. Generally focusing on themes of death,
demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife, they prey on fears of scary
beings like ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and monsters.
In horror fiction, the plot and characters are tools used to elicit a
terrifying sense of dread.
5. Historical. Historical fiction novels take place in the past. Written
with a careful balance of research and creativity, they transport
readers to another time and place—which can be real, imagined, or a
combination of both. Many historical novels tell stories that involve
actual historical figures or historical events within historical settings.
6. Romance. Romantic fiction centers around love stories between
two people. They’re lighthearted, optimistic, and have an emotionally
satisfying ending. Romance novels do contain conflict, but it doesn’t
overshadow the romantic relationship, which always prevails in the
end.
7. Western. Western novels tell the stories of cowboys, settlers,
and outlaws exploring the western frontier and taming the American
Old West. They’re shaped specifically by their genre-specific
elements and rely on them in ways that novels in other fiction genres
don’t. Westerns aren’t as popular as they once were; the golden age
of the genre coincided with the popularity of western films in the
1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.
8. Bildungsroman. Bildungsroman is a literary genre of stories
about a character growing psychologically and morally from their
youth into adulthood. Generally, they experience a profound
emotional loss, set out on a journey, encounter conflict, and grow into
a mature person by the end of the story. Translated, a bildungsroman
is “a novel of education” or “a novel of formation.
9. Speculative Fiction. Speculative fiction is a supergenre that
encompasses a number of different types of fiction, from science
fiction to fantasy to dystopian. The stories take place in a world
different from our own. Speculative fiction knows no boundaries; there
are no limits to what exists beyond the real world.
10. Science Fiction. Sci-fi novels are speculative stories with
imagined elements that don’t exist in the real world. Some are
inspired by “hard” natural sciences like physics, chemistry, and
astronomy; others are inspired by “soft” social sciences like
psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Common elements of sci-fi
novels include time travel, space exploration, and futuristic societies.
11. Fantasy. Fantasy novels are speculative fiction stories with
imaginary characters set in imaginary universes. They’re inspired by
mythology and folklore and often include elements of magic. The
genre attracts both children and adults; well-known titles
include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and
the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
12. Dystopian. Dystopian novels are a genre of science fiction.
They’re set in societies viewed as worse than the one in which we
live. Dystopian fiction exists in contrast to utopian fiction, which is set
in societies viewed as better than the one in which we live.
13. Magical Realism. Magical realism novels depict the world
truthfully, plus add magical elements. The fantastical elements aren’t
viewed as odd or unique; they’re considered normal in the world in
which the story takes place. The genre was born out of the realist art
movement and is closely associated with Latin American authors.
14. Realist Literature. Realist fiction novels are set in a time and
place that could actually happen in the real world. They depict real
people, places, and stories in order to be as truthful as possible.
Realist works of fiction remain true to everyday life and abide by the
laws of nature as we currently understand them.
15. Fable. is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in
prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants,
inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized,
and that illustrates or leads to a particular moral lesson.
16. Folk Tale. are a kind of story that gets passed on from
generation to generation. True folktales do not have a single author.
They develop as different people tell them over time. As such, they
are creations of “the folk,” or the people. Many folktales are very old.
17. Myths. a traditional story, especially one concerning the early
history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon,
and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
18. Legend. is a story coming down from the past; especially: one
popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable. Often tells the
story of a hero and their mighty deeds.
19. Fairytales. A fairy tale is a story, often intended for children,
that features fanciful and wondrous characters such as elves, goblins,
wizards, and even, but not necessarily, fairies. The term “fairy” tale
seems to refer more to the fantastic and magical setting or magical
influences within a story, rather than the presence of the character of
a fairy within that story. Fairy tales are often traditional; many were
passed down from story-teller to story-teller before being recorded in
books.
20. Drama. a written work that tells a story through action and
speech and is meant to be acted on a stage.
21. Biography. A biography is simply the story of a real person's
life. It could be about a person who is still alive, someone who lived
centuries ago, someone who is globally famous, an unsung hero
forgotten by history, or even a unique group of people.
22. Autobiography. the biography of oneself narrated by oneself.
Autobiographical works can take many forms, from the intimate
writings made during life that were not necessarily intended for
publication.
23. Informal Writing. Informal writing is similar to a spoken
conversation. It may therefore include slang, figures of speech,
broken syntax, or asides. A personal tone as if you were speaking
directly to your audience (readers). Informal writing is often very
conversational in style.
