LESSON 2 - Literary Genres Flashcards
(31 cards)
Describes a “grouping of texts related within the system of literature by their sharing recognizably functionalized features of form and content.”
Genre
Generally answers the question, “What is it about?”. It can provide a hint about a text’s main idea, development, and resolutions, given that the readers have read another work that has a similar subject matter.
Subject
- comes from the Greek word “poiesis”, which means “making, formation”
- a style of writing that tends to be written in verses, and typically employs a rhythmic and measured approach to composition
Poetry
A poem that expresses one complete thought or idea and is arranged in 14 lines with a specific pattern of iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme.
Sonnet (Poetry)
Related to a death or to mourn a loss, this type of poetry can also mean more than one type of loss or mourning, it can consist of any topic and is more on reflective and philosophic pieces and love poems written in verses and stanzas.
Elegy (Poetry)
A poem that follows a specific format of 5/7/5 and has 17 syllables; is usually written about nature, but shows simplicity and directness about any subject.
Haiku (Poetry)
Is poetry that tells a story. Just like the typical structure of a story, it usually has a beginning, middle, and end, but narrative poetry
Narrative Poetry
A long narrative poem with a story that has a specific time or timeline and celebrates heroes, historic deeds or events, but usually focus on one hero.
Epic (Narrative Poetry)
A narrative written in verse and often set to music, and most known as a genre of folk poetry, it follows the abcb or abab rhyme and is a story written that can be sang as a song
Ballad (Narrative Poetry)
Any poem that does not follow a particular rule or have a fixed metrical pattern.
Freeverse (Narrative Poetry)
- comes from the Greek word “prosa oratio”, which means straightforward discourse.
- identified as written text that aligns with the flow of conversation in sentence and paragraph form, as opposed to verses and stanzas in poetry
Prose
Two types of Prose
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
Usually, it has multiple chapters, with a larger plot and focus on character development.
Novel (Fictional Prose)
Is defined as a fictional narrative that is longer than a short story but shorter than a regular novel. Generally, they are between 20,000 and 40,000 words in length.
Novella (Fictional Prose)
A work of fiction that makes use of similar elements to novels, but to a lesser degree.
Short Story (Fictional Prose)
A story which teaches a moral lesson. Fables sometimes have animals as the main characters.
Fable (Fictional Prose)
A short, simple story that teaches or explains an idea, especially a moral or religious idea. It typically features characters and events that are symbolic of larger truths or ideas.
Parable (Fictional Prose)
A traditional story that has been passed down through generations and is believed by many people but cannot be proven to be true.
Legend (Fictional Prose)
Elements of a Story
- Character
- Has a distinct appearance, personality, and motivation. - Plot
- A story’s narrative design which is also the basis of the events’ sequences. - Setting
- A story’s time and place. - Theme
- A recurring idea or main message that an author explores through a fictional work.
History is the study of past events, particularly human activity, and its impact on people and societies. Historical nonfiction consists of true accounts of historical eras and events.
History (Non-Fictional Prose)
Journalism is most regularly consumed in the form of newspapers and magazines, along with monthly journals, TV news reports, and more.
News (Non-Fictional Prose)
Are written in the third person about someone other than the author.
Biography (Non-Fictional Prose)
Are written by the subject themselves.
Autobiographies and memoirs (Non-Fictional Prose)
A personal record of experiences, thoughts, and/or reflections kept regularly and often privately. It can be a physical book or an electronic document.
Diary (Non-Fictional Prose)
