Literary Genre Essay

literary genres ar determined by literary technique, tone, content and by critics definitions of the genres. A literary genre is a category, type or class of literature. Major seduces of literature The major forms of Literature ar * Novel * Poem * Drama * Short baloney * Novella Various forms of literature are written in and further categorized by genre. Sometimes forms are utilise interchangeably to define genre. However, a form, e. g. , a novel or a verse form, keister itself be written in any genre.Genre is a label that characterizes fractions a contributor cease expect in a work of literature. The major forms of literature can be written in various genres. Classic major genres Genre is a category characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. The classic major genres of Literature are * Drama * Romance * Satire * Tragedy * Comedy * tragicomedy Genre categories fabrication and non lying Genre whitethorn fall under one of two categories Fiction and No n legend.Any genre can be both a work of Fiction (non incidentual descriptions and events invented by the author) or a work of Non legend (a communication in which descriptions and events are understood to be factual). Common genres fiction Subsets of genres, known as common genres, have conveyed from the archetypes of genres in written position. The common genres included in recommended Literature from kindergarten through and through Grade Twelve by the CaliforniaDepartment of Education are defined as1 * Drama stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action * Fable narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans legendary, supernatural bosh * Fairy tale storey about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children * Fantasy fiction with strange or other worldly settings or charactersfiction which invites suspension of reality * Fiction narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily establish on fact * Fiction in verse full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), infrastructure(s), major and minor characters, in which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form * Folklore the songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or family unit as handed down by news of mouth * Historical fiction story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting * wickedness fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread and sometimes fear in both the characters and the reader* Humor Usually a fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain and sometimes cause intended laughter but can be contained in all genres * Legend story, sometimes of a theme or folk hero, that has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material * Mystery fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets* Mythology legend or traditiona l narrative, practically based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism often pertaining to the actions of the gods * Poetry verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that pretends emotional responses * Realistic fiction story that is true to life* Science fiction story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets * Short story fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots * Tall tale humorous story with blatant parodys, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance Common genres nonfiction* Biography/Autobiography Narrative of a persons life. A true story about a real person. * Essay A ill-judged literary composition that reflects the authors outlook or point. * Narrative nonfiction Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.* row Public address or discourse. * Textbook Authoritative and detailed factual description o f a topic. literary fiction vs. genre fiction Literary fiction is a term used to distinguish certain fictional works that possess commonly held qualities that constitute literary merit. Genre works are written with the intent of harmonizeting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre.Literary fiction may fit within a classification of market fiction, but also possesses generally agreed upon qualities such as elegantly written, lyrical, and layered that appeals to readers outside genre fiction. Literary fiction has been defined as any fiction that attempts to engage with one or more truths or questions, hence relevant to a broad scope of humanity as a form of expression.There are many an(prenominal) sources that process readers find and define literary fiction and genre fiction. Literary element A literary element is an element found in the whole works of literature. Literary elements are not used by all authors instea d, they pull through inherently in forms of literature and are derived by the readers of a work in question.1 This distinguishes them from literary techniques, which are less universal and are used measuredly rather than being emergent characteristics of a literary work. For example, characterization, conflict, setting, and point of berth would be considered literary elements, whereas irony or foreshadowing are considered literary techniques. Literary elements are most frequently used to help discussion on a work or better understand a work of literature.For instance, the current York State Comprehensive English Regents Exam requires that students utilize and discuss literary elements relating to specific works in each of the two essays,2 much like many other state-level high school exams nationwide. Literary elements* antagonist * archetype (prototype/original/classic/model) * characterization * climax * conflict * dialogue * diction * denouement (resolution) * outstanding str ucture * falling action * language * mood * moral * motif (feature/recurring design) * narrative mode (point of view) * narrative structure * Peripheral (minor/not a central important)* plot * protagonist * rising action * setting * speaker * syntax * theme * Tone * Literary Analysis Using Elements of Literature Students are asked to write literary analysis essays because this type of assignment encourages you to think about how and why a verse form, short story, novel, or play was written.To successfully analyze literature, youll request to remember that authors make specific choices for particular reasons. Your essay should point out the authors choices and attempt to explain their significance. Another way to look at a literary analysis is to consider a piece of literature from your own perspective. Rather than thinking about the authors intentions, you can develop an melodic phrase based on any single term (or combination of terms) listed below. Youll just need to use the ori ginal text to defend and explain your argument to the reader.Allegory narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait (i. e.greed, vanity, or bravery) and attempt to convey some larger lesson or meaning to life. Although allegory was originally and traditionally character based, modern allegories tend to parallel story and theme. * William Faulkners A Rose for Emily- the decline of the emeritus South * Robert Louis Stevensons Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde- mans struggle to contain his inner primal instincts * District 9- South African Apartheid * X Men- the evils of injury * Harry Potter- the dangers of seeking racial purity Character representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or functions in a work of fiction * Protagonist The character the story revolves around.* Antagonist A character or force that opposes the protagonist. * Minor character lots provides support and illuminates the protagonist. * quiet character A character that remains the same. * Dynamic character A character that changes in some important way. * Characterization The choices an author makes to reveal a characters personality, such as appearance, actions, dialogue, and motivations. Look for Connections, links, and clues between and about characters.Ask yourself what the function and significance of each character is. Make this determination based upon the characters history, what the reader is told (and not told), and what other characters say about themselves and others.Connotation implied meaning of word. BEWARE Connotations can change over time. * confidence/ self-confidence * mouse/ rat * cautious/ scared * curious/ nosey * frugal/ cheap Denotation dictionary definition of a word Diction word choice that both conveys and emphasizes the meaning or theme of a poem through distinctions in sound, look, rhythm, syllable, letters, and definition Figurative language the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves * Metaphor contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using like or as * You are the sunshine of my life.* Simile contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using like or as * What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun * Hyperbole exaggeration * I have a million things to do today. * Personification giving non-human objects human characteristics * America has thrown her hat into the ring, and will be joining forces with the British. tail end grouping of stressed and unstressed syllables used in line or poem * Iamb unstressed syllable followed by stressed * Made famous by the Shakespearian sonnet, closest to the natural rhythm of human speech * How do I love thee? Let me count the ways * Spondee stressed stressed* use to add emphasis and break up monotonous rhythm * Blood boil, min d-meld, well- loved * Trochee stressed unstressed * Often used in childrens rhymes and to help with memorization, gives poem a hurried feeling * While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, * Anapest unstressed unstressed stressed * Often used in longer poems or rhymed stories * Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house * Dactyls stressed unstressed unstressed * Often used in classical Greek or Latin text, later revived by the Romantics, then again by the Beatles, often apprehension to create a heartbeat or pulse in a poem * Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.The iamb stumbles through my books trochees rush and tumble while anapest runs like a hurrying brook dactyls are stately and classical. Imagery the authors attempt to create a mental picture (or reference point) in the mind of the reader. Remember, though the most immediate forms of imagery are visual, strong and effective imagery can be used to invoke an emotional, sensational (taste, touch, smell etc) or even physical response. Meter measure or structuring of rhythm in a poem Plot the arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story * Foreshadowing When the writer clues the reader in to something that will eventually occur in the story it may be explicit (obvious) or implied (disguised).* Suspense The tension that the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about the unknown * impinge Struggle between opposing forces. * Exposition Background information regarding the setting, characters, plot. * Rising Action The process the story follows as it builds to its main conflict * Crisis A meaningful turning point in the story that determines how it must end * Resolution/Denouement The way the story turns out.Point of View pertains to who tells the story and how it is told. The point of view of a story can sometimes indirectly establish the authors intentions. * cashier The person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story.* First-person Narrator participates in action but sometimes has limited knowledge/vision. * Second person Narrator addresses the reader directly as though she is part of the story. (i. e. You walk into your bedroom. You see clutter everywhere and) * Third Person (Objective) Narrator is unnamed/unidentified (a gratis(p) observer). Does not assume characters perspective and is not a character in the story.The narrator reports on events and lets the reader supply the meaning. * Omniscient omniscient narrator (multiple perspectives). The narrator knows what each character is thinking and feeling, not just what they are doing throughout the story.This type of narrator usually jumps around within the text, following(a) one character for a few pages or chapters, and then switching to another character for a few pages, chapters, etc. Omniscient narrators also sometimes step out of a particular characters mind to evaluate him or her in s ome meaningful way. Rhythm often thought of as a poems timing.Rhythm is the juxtaposition of stressed and unstressed beats in a poem, and is often used to give the reader a lens through which to move through the work. (See meter and foot) Setting the place or location of the action. The setting provides the historical and cultural context for characters. It often can symbolize the emotional state of characters.Example In Poes The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling old mansion reflects the decaying state of both the family and the narrators mind. We also see this type of emphasis on setting in Thomas Manns Death in Venice. Speaker the person delivering the poem. Remember, a poem does not have to have a speaker, and the speaker and the poet are not necessarily one in the same. Structure (fiction) The way that the writer arranges the plot of a story.Look for Repeated elements in action, gesture, dialogue, description, as well as shifts in direction, focus, time, place, etc. Structure (poetry) The pattern of organization of a poem. For example, a Shakespearean sonnet is a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter.Because the sonnet is strictly constrained, it is considered a closed or fixed form. An open or free form poem has looser form, or perhaps one of the authors invention, but it is important to remember that these poems are not necessarily formless. Symbolism when an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the object itself.* Cross representative of Christ or Christianity * Bald Eagle America or Patriotism * hooter wisdom or knowledge * Yellow implies cowardice or rot Tone the implied attitude towards the subject of the poem. Is it hopeful, pessimistic, dreary, worried? A poet conveys tone by cartel all of the elements listed above to create a precise impression on the reader.