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.