Major Branches of Literature
Fiction: Literary works that are primarily imaginative and not based on actual events or people.
- Subgenres: Novel, short story, novella, epic, fable, fairy tale, science fiction, fantasy, horror
Nonfiction: Literary works that present factual information or ideas.
- Subgenres: Memoir, biography, autobiography, essay, journalism, scientific writing, technical writing
Poetry: Literary works that use language in a creative and evocative manner to express ideas and emotions.
- Subgenres: Lyric poetry, epic poetry, dramatic poetry, free verse, blank verse
Drama: Literary works intended for performance, primarily through dialogue and action.
- Subgenres: Tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, melodrama, farce, musical theater
Generes of Literature
Genre Literature: Fictional works that follow specific conventions and tropes within a particular literary genre.
- Subgenres: Romance, mystery, thriller, Western, historical fiction, crime, horror
Literary Fiction: Fictional works that are typically more experimental, artistic, and character-driven than genre literature.
- Subgenres: Modernist, postmodernist, realist, stream-of-consciousness, magical realism
Young Adult Literature: Fictional works intended for an audience of teenagers and young adults.
- Subgenres: Contemporary realism, fantasy, science fiction, dystopian, coming-of-age
Children's Literature: Fictional and nonfictional works intended for children.
- Subgenres: Picture books, chapter books, middle-grade novels, fairy tales, fables
Other Genres
- Epistolary: Works written in the form of letters or emails
- Autobiographical: Works based on the author's own life experiences
- Experimental: Works that push the boundaries of traditional literary forms
- Speculative: Works that explore imaginative or hypothetical scenarios, often including elements of science fiction or fantasy
- Graphic: Works that combine written text with visual elements, such as illustrations or comics