Literary Genres

Definition: categories used to group different types of literary work, such as non-fiction, fiction and poetry.

Non-Fiction

This can also be called “informational” material. These types of books provide information that is factual. Nothing is make-believe in these types of materials. More specific examples of this type of genre would be . . .

Fiction

In this type of work, the author can make up the whole entire story. Authors can also choose to include factual information in a made-up story. The author can have wizards creating magic spells or it can be about a 12 year old girl who has a secret crush.

Different types of fictionHistorical Fiction: The story takes the reader back to a particular time period where they learn about the everyday life of a person. The character may interact with actual historical characters, but usually, the main character is not based on a real person.

Realistic Fiction: The story usually presents a problem to be examined that could be from anybody’s life. They may cover such topics as family situations, peer relationships, and cultural differences.

• Science Fiction: This is a type of modern fantasy.

It explores scientific fact and can pose ethical

questions about current scientific trends and

predictions. The author focuses on the

adventure of exploring the unknown and the

wonder of discovering new worlds and people

• Mystery: There are different types of mystery

stories, but usually a crime has been committed

and the reader wants to try to figure out

“whodunit”. There is usually a great deal of

suspense and intrigue abounds

Symbolism• Cola drink

• Dancer

• Lawyer

• Rules of court / rules of dance technique

Parable / Allegory• Social expectations

• Divisions between socio-economic groups

• Gender division

Imagery • The pursuit of perfection

• Individual’s perceptions of truth and reality

Allegory: The allegory may have multiple non-contradictory interpretations, and may also have implications that are ambiguous or hard to interpret.

The parable is more condensed than the allegory: a single principle comes to bear, and a single moral is deduced as it dawns on the reader or listener that the conclusion applies equally well to his own concerns.

Multiple narrative voices

Parallel parables (plots)

• Explain the effect of non-linear plot progressions

• Identify and examine how plot elements (e.g., exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution/denouement) function and advance action

• Explain how short story plots are primarily singular in focus

• Explain the use of multiple plots in novels

• Examine and analyse the role and function of characters:– major/minor, protagonists/antagonists – determine ways in which the author reveals those characters e.g.,

• what the author tells us, • what the other characters say about him or her, • what the character does, • what the character says, what the character thinks).

• Investigate the moral dilemmas as revealed by character motivation and behaviour

• Explain how plot shapes the character and the presentation of moral dilemmas

• Differentiate between mood and tone

• Identify characteristics of lyric poetry, blank verse, free verse, epic, sonnet, dramatic poetry, and ballad.

• Identify and analyze elements of literary drama e.g., dramatic irony, dialogue, soliloquy, monologue, aside,

• Explain the effect and use rhyme scheme (e.g., end, internal, slant, eye), rhythm, alliteration, assonance, consonance, enjambment, and other conventions of verse

• Differentiate between prose and poetry

• Analyse the author’s purpose for choosing two genres (poetry Vs prose).

Allegory…• The allegory may have multiple non-

contradictory interpretations, and may also have implications that are ambiguous or hard to interpret. As H.W. Fowler puts it in Modern English Usage, the object of both parable and allegory "is to enlighten the hearer by submitting to him a case in which he has apparently no direct concern, and upon which therefore a disinterested judgment may be elicited from him." [4] The parable, though, is more condensed than the allegory: a single principle comes to bear, and a single moral is deduced as it dawns on the reader or listener that the conclusion applies equally well to his own concerns.

Parable:• A parable is a short tale that illustrates

universal truth, one of the simplest of narratives. It sketches a setting, describes an action, and shows the results. It often involves a character facing a moral dilemma, or making a questionable decision and then suffering the consequences. Though the meaning of a parable is often not explicitly stated, the meaning is not usually intended be hidden or secret but on the contrary quite straightforward and obvious.[5]

Too Kill A Mockingbird• Parallel plot lines• Multiple narrative voices

(Scout’s inner monologue)

Multiple narrative voices

• The Immigrant Chronicles• Jinx – Margaret Wild• The Book Thief – Zurzak• The 50th Gate • Maus• Holes – Louis Sachar

THE BLACK SWAN THEORY• The Black Swan Theory or Theory of Black

Swan Events is a metaphor that encapsulates the concept that The event is a surprise (to the observer) and has a major impact. After the fact, the event is rationalized by hindsight.

• The theory was developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb to explain:– The disproportionate role of high-impact, hard to

predict, and rare events that are beyond the realm of normal expectations in history, science, finance and technology

– The non-computability of the probability of the consequential rare events using scientific methods (owing to the very nature of small probabilities)

– The psychological biases that make people individually and collectively blind to uncertainty and unaware of the massive role of the rare event in historical affairs

THE BLACK SWAN – PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

Multiple narrative voices: scenes of “inner monologue”

SHUTTER ISLAND – PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

• Shutter Island is a best-selling novel by Dennis Lehane, published by Harper Collins in April 2003.

• An atmospheric psychological thriller• Narrative voice – reality / inner monologue /

psychological “visions”• Flash-backs

VINCENT• Animated short film by Tim

Burton• Narrated by Vincent Price• Allusions to:

– The Raven – Edgar Allen Poe– Frankenstein - Film

• Iambic pentameter rhythm• Multiple narrative voices:

Mother - Vincent

• Antagonist • Archetype *• Aristotle *• Articulate *• Aside *• Assonance *• Autobiography *• Ballad *• Blank verse *• Characters (major and minor) *• Comedy *• Consonance *• Contemporary *• Dialogue *• Differentiate *

http://www.tncurriculumcenter.org/index.php?option=com_curriculum&controller=map&task=strand&id=74&course=3001

Academic Vocabulary for Genre

• Drama • Dramatic irony *• Dramatic poetry *• Elements of poetry • Enjambment *• Epic hero *• Epic poem *• Epithet *• Exposition *• Foil *• Free verse *• Greek chorus *• Haiku *• Hero *

http://www.tncurriculumcenter.org/index.php?option=com_curriculum&controller=map&task=strand&id=74&course=3001

Academic Vocabulary for Genre

• Heroic couplet *• Homeric simile *• Iambic pentameter *• Invocation *• Irony (dramatic, situational, verbal) *• Lyric poetry *• Meter *• Monologue *• Mood *• Moral dilemma *• Narrative *• Narrative poetry *• Non-linear *• Octet *

http://www.tncurriculumcenter.org/index.php?option=com_curriculum&controller=map&task=strand&id=74&course=3001

Academic Vocabulary for Genre

• Ode *• Oral tradition *• Parable *• Parallel plots *• Protagonist • Repetition *• Resolution/Denouement *• Rhyme *• Rhyme scheme *• Rhythm *• Sestet *• Soliloquy *• Sonnet (Petrarchan, Shakespearean) *• Tone *• Tragedy *• Tragic flaw *• Tragic hero *• Tragic illumination *

http://www.tncurriculumcenter.org/index.php?option=com_curriculum&controller=map&task=strand&id=74&course=3001

Academic Vocabulary for Genre