Literary Genres
20 Literary Genres with Meanings and Examples
1. Fiction: A genre of literature that is not true, but is invented.
- Example: “Harry Potter” is a popular fiction series.
2. Nonfiction: A genre of literature that is true and factual.
- Example: “The Diary of a Young Girl” is a famous nonfiction book.
3. Drama: A genre of literature intended to be performed on stage.
- Example: “Romeo and Juliet” is a famous drama.
4. Poetry: A genre of literature that uses rhythm and rhyme.
- Example: “The Raven” is a famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe.
5. Science Fiction: A genre of fiction that deals with advanced technology or futuristic settings.
- Example: “Star Wars” is a popular science fiction franchise.
6. Fantasy: A genre of fiction that deals with magical or supernatural elements.
- Example: “The Lord of the Rings” is a famous fantasy series.
7. Mystery: A genre of fiction that deals with solving crimes.
- Example: “Sherlock Holmes” is a famous mystery series.
8. Horror: A genre of fiction that deals with fear and the supernatural.
- Example: “Dracula” is a famous horror novel.
9. Romance: A genre of fiction that deals with love and relationships.
- Example: “Pride and Prejudice” is a famous romance novel.
10. Historical Fiction: A genre of fiction that is based on historical events.
- Example: “The Scarlet Letter” is a historical fiction novel.
11. Young Adult: A genre of fiction aimed at teenagers and young adults.
- Example: “The Hunger Games” is a popular young adult series.
12. Children’s Literature: A genre of fiction aimed at children.
- Example: “The Little Prince” is a famous children’s book.
13. Comedy: A genre of fiction that is intended to be humorous.
- Example: “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” is a famous comedy novel.
14. Tragedy: A genre of drama that deals with serious events and has an unhappy ending.
- Example: “Hamlet” is a famous tragedy.
15. Satire: A genre of literature that uses humor to criticize or ridicule.
- Example: “Gulliver’s Travels” is a famous satire.
16. Dystopia: A genre of fiction that depicts a society that is oppressive or undesirable.
- Example: “Brave New World” is a famous dystopian novel.
17. Utopia: A genre of fiction that depicts a perfect society.
- Example: “The Republic” is a famous utopian work.
18. Noir: A genre of fiction that is characterized by pessimism, cynicism, and violence.
- Example: “The Maltese Falcon” is a famous noir novel.
19. Gothic: A genre of fiction that is characterized by mystery, horror, and the supernatural.
- Example: “The Castle of Otranto” is a famous gothic novel.
20. Bildungsroman: A genre of fiction that follows the protagonist’s journey from childhood to adulthood.
- Example: “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a famous Bildungsroman.