HSC English Extension 1
Module 1: Genre
Traditionally, the term
genre refers to a kind of literature such as
revenge tragedy or crime fiction or speculative fiction which have
been set for study.
There are three principle genres in English literature: poetry,
drama and the novel (or prose). Film has been regarded as a serious
genre for some time and can be included in the list.
Within these broad areas there are a number of subdivisions (and
further divisions within subdivisions):
| Poetry |
Drama |
Novel |
Film |
|
the lyric
- elegy
- epic
- ode
- song
- sonnet
|
tragedy |
short story |
drama |
| narrative verse |
comedy |
novella |
animation |
| |
|
autobiography |
documentary |
However, a particular genre, for example, the novel,
will also have its 'genres' such as romantic fiction. science fiction,
the western, the thriller, chick lit etc.
In Literary Terms: a practical glossary,
Bran Moon uses the example of the fairy tale, "Little Red Riding Hood"
to explain genres and their features. He lists a number of genres and
then asks students to match the genre to the emphasis in the story. For
example, if the genre is 'mystery' then the emphasis or reading might be
the killing of grandma or of the wolf. This also serves to show how
'readings' work in literature as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_genre
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/genres.html
http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Genres/
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