Genre is a type of literary work. There are epic, lyrical, dramatic genres. Lyroepic genres are also distinguished. Genres are also divided by volume into large (including rum and epic novel), medium (literary works of “medium size” - novels and poems), small (story, short story, essay). They have genres and thematic division: adventure novel, psychological novel, sentimental, philosophical, etc. The main division is connected with the genres of literature. We present to your attention the genres of literature in the table.

Thematic division of genres is rather conditional. There is no strict classification of genres by topic. For example, if they talk about the genre-thematic diversity of lyrics, they usually single out love, philosophical, landscape lyrics. But, as you understand, the variety of lyrics is not exhausted by this set.

If you set out to study the theory of literature, it is worth mastering the groups of genres:

  • epic, that is, genres of prose (epic novel, novel, story, short story, short story, parable, fairy tale);
  • lyrical, that is, poetic genres (lyric poem, elegy, message, ode, epigram, epitaph),
  • dramatic - types of plays (comedy, tragedy, drama, tragicomedy),
  • lyrical epic (ballad, poem).

Literary genres in tables

epic genres

  • epic novel

    epic novel- a novel with a picture folk life during critical historical periods. "War and Peace" by Tolstoy, " Quiet Don» Sholokhov.

  • Novel

    Novel- a multi-problem work depicting a person in the process of his formation and development. The action in the novel is full of external or internal conflicts. By subject, there are: historical, satirical, fantastic, philosophical, etc. By structure: a novel in verse, an epistolary novel, etc.

  • Tale

    Tale- an epic work of medium or large form, built in the form of a narrative of events in their natural sequence. Unlike the novel, in P. the material is chronicled, there is no sharp plot, there is no blue analysis of the feelings of the characters. P. does not pose tasks of a global historical nature.

  • Story

    Story- a small epic form, a small work with a limited number of characters. R. most often poses one problem or describes one event. The short story differs from R. in an unexpected ending.

  • Parable

    Parable- moral teaching in allegorical form. A parable differs from a fable in that it draws its artistic material from human life. Example: Gospel parables, the parable of the righteous land, told by Luke in the play "At the Bottom".


Lyric genres

  • lyric poem

    lyric poemsmall form lyrics written either on behalf of the author, or on behalf of a fictional lyrical hero. Description of the inner world of the lyric hero, his feelings, emotions.

  • Elegy

    Elegy- a poem imbued with moods of sadness and sadness. As a rule, the content of elegies is philosophical reflections, sad thoughts, grief.

  • Message

    Message- a letter of poetry addressed to a person. According to the content of the message, there are friendly, lyrical, satirical, etc. The message can be. addressed to one person or group of people.

  • Epigram

    Epigram- a poem that makes fun of a specific person. Character traits- wit and brevity.

  • Oh yeah

    Oh yeah- a poem, distinguished by the solemnity of style and sublimity of content. Praise in verse.

  • Sonnet

    Sonnet- a solid poetic form, usually consisting of 14 verses (lines): 2 quatrains-quatrains (for 2 rhymes) and 2 three-line tercetes


Dramatic genres

  • Comedy

    Comedy- a type of drama in which characters, situations and actions are presented in funny forms or imbued with the comic. There are satirical comedies (“Undergrowth”, “Inspector General”), high (“Woe from Wit”) and lyrical (“The Cherry Orchard”).

  • Tragedy

    Tragedy- a work based on an irreconcilable life conflict, leading to the suffering and death of heroes. William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

  • Drama

    Drama- a play with a sharp conflict, which, unlike the tragic, is not so elevated, more mundane, ordinary and somehow resolved. The drama is built on modern rather than ancient material and establishes a new hero who rebelled against circumstances.


Lyric epic genres

(intermediate between epic and lyric)

  • Poem

    Poem- the average lyrical-epic form, a work with a plot-narrative organization, in which not one, but a whole series of experiences is embodied. Features: the presence of a detailed plot and at the same time close attention to inner world lyrical hero - or an abundance of lyrical digressions. poem " Dead Souls» N.V. Gogol

  • Ballad

    Ballad- an average lyrical-epic form, a work with an unusual, tense plot. This is a story in verse. A story told in poetic form, historical, mythical, or heroic. The plot of the ballad is usually borrowed from folklore. Ballads "Svetlana", "Lyudmila" V.A. Zhukovsky


Literature is called works of human thought, enshrined in the written word and having a social meaning. Any literary work, depending on HOW the writer depicts reality in it, is attributed to one of three literary genera : epic, lyric or drama.

epic (from the Greek. "narration") - a generalized name for works in which events external to the author are depicted.

Lyrics (from the Greek "performed to the lyre") - the generalized name of works - as a rule, poetic, in which there is no plot, but the thoughts, feelings, experiences of the author (lyrical hero) are reflected.

Drama (from Greek "action") - a generalized name for works in which life is shown through conflicts and clashes of heroes. Dramatic works are intended not so much for reading as for staging. In drama, it is not external action that is important, but the experience of a conflict situation. In drama, epic (narration) and lyrics are merged into one.

Within each type of literature, there are genres- historically established types of works, characterized by certain structural and content features (see table of genres).

EPOS LYRICS DRAMA
epic Oh yeah tragedy
novel elegy comedy
story hymn drama
story sonnet tragicomedy
fairy tale message vaudeville
fable epigram melodrama

Tragedy (from Greek "goat song") - dramatic work with an insurmountable conflict, where an intense struggle is depicted strong characters and passions, ending with the death of the hero.

Comedy (from the Greek. "fun song") - a dramatic work with a cheerful, funny plot, usually ridiculing social or domestic vices.

Drama is a literary work in the form of a dialogue with a serious plot, depicting a personality in its dramatic relationship with society.

Vaudeville - a light comedy with singing couplets and dancing.

Farce - a theatrical play of a light, playful nature with external comic effects, designed for a rude taste.

Oh yeah (from Greek “song”) - a choral, solemn song, a work that glorifies, praises any significant event or heroic person.

Hymn (from Greek “praise”) - a solemn song to verses of a programmatic nature. Initially, hymns were dedicated to the gods. Currently, the anthem is one of the national symbols of the state.

Epigram (from the Greek. "Inscription") - a short satirical poem of a mocking nature, which arose in the 3rd century BC. e.

Elegy - a genre of lyrics dedicated to sad thoughts or a lyric poem imbued with sadness. Belinsky called an elegy "a song of sad content." The word "elegy" is translated as "reed flute" or "mournful song". The elegy originated in Ancient Greece in the 7th century BC e.

Message - a poetic letter, an appeal to a specific person, a request, a wish.

Sonnet (from Provence. "song") - a poem of 14 lines, which has a certain rhyming system and strict stylistic laws. The sonnet originated in Italy in the 13th century (the creator is the poet Jacopo da Lentini), appeared in England in the first half of the 16th century (G. Sarri), and in Russia in the 18th century. The main types of the sonnet are Italian (from 2 quatrains and 2 tercets) and English (from 3 quatrains and the final couplet).

Poem (from the Greek “I do, I create”) - a lyrical-epic genre, a large poetic work with a narrative or lyrical plot, usually on a historical or legendary theme.

Ballad - lyrical-epic genre, plot song of dramatic content.

epic - large piece of art, telling about significant historical events. In ancient times - a narrative poem of heroic content. In the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, the epic novel genre appears - this is a work in which the formation of the characters of the main characters occurs in the course of their participation in historical events.

Novel - a large narrative work of art with complex plot, in the center of which is the fate of the individual.

Tale - a work of art that occupies a middle position between a novel and a short story in terms of volume and complexity of the plot. In ancient times, everything was called a story. narrative work.

Story - a work of art of a small size, based on an episode, an incident from the life of a hero.

Fairy tale - a work about fictional events and heroes, usually with the participation of magical, fantastic forces.

Fable - This is a narrative work in poetic form, of a small size, moralizing or satirical nature.

4. As you know, all literary works, depending on the nature of the depicted, belong to one of the three KINDS: epic, lyric or drama. Literary gender- this is a generalized name for a group of works, depending on the nature of the reflection of reality.

EPOS (from the Greek "narrative";-) is a generalized name for works depicting events external to the author.

LYRICS (from the Greek "performed to the lyre";-) is a generalized name for works in which there is no plot, but the feelings, thoughts, experiences of the author or his lyrical hero are depicted.

DRAMA (from the Greek. "action";-) - a generalized name for works intended for staging on stage; the drama is dominated by the dialogue of the characters, the author's beginning is minimized.

Varieties of epic, lyrical and dramatic works are called types literary works.

Type and genre are very close concepts in literary criticism.

Genres are variations in the type of literary work. For example, a genre version of a story can be fantastic or historical tale, and the genre variety of comedy is vaudeville, etc. Strictly speaking, literary genre- this is a historically established type of work of art, containing certain structural features and aesthetic quality inherent in this group of works.

TYPES (GENRES) OF EPIC WORKS:

Epic, novel, story, short story, fairy tale, fable, legend.

EPIC is a major work of art that tells about significant historical events. In ancient times - a narrative poem of heroic content. In the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, the epic novel genre appears - this is a work in which the formation of the characters of the main characters occurs in the course of their participation in historical events.
ROMAN is a large narrative work of art with a complex plot, in the center of which is the fate of the individual.
A STORY is a work of art that occupies a middle position between a novel and a short story in terms of the volume and complexity of the plot. In ancient times, any narrative work was called a story.
STORY - a work of art of a small size, which is based on an episode, an incident from the life of a hero.
FAIRY TALE - a work about fictional events and heroes, usually with the participation of magical, fantastic forces.
FABLE (from “bayat” - to tell) is a narrative work in poetic form, small in size, moralizing or satirical in nature.

TYPES (GENRES) OF LYRICAL WORKS:

Ode, hymn, song, elegy, sonnet, epigram, message.

ODA (from the Greek “song”) is a choral, solemn song.
HYMN (from Greek “praise”) is a solemn song based on programmatic verses.
EPIGRAM (from Greek “inscription”) is a short satirical poem of a mocking nature that arose in the 3rd century BC. e.
ELEGY - a genre of lyrics dedicated to sad thoughts or a lyrical poem imbued with sadness. Belinsky called an elegy "a song of sad content." The word "elegy" is translated as "reed flute" or "mournful song". The elegy originated in ancient Greece in the 7th century BC. e.
MESSAGE - a poetic letter, an appeal to a specific person, a request, a wish, a confession.
SONNET (from the Provencal sonette - "song") - a poem of 14 lines, which has a certain rhyming system and strict stylistic laws. The sonnet originated in Italy in the 13th century (the creator is the poet Jacopo da Lentini), appeared in England in the first half of the 16th century (G. Sarri), and in Russia in the 18th century. The main types of the sonnet are Italian (from 2 quatrains and 2 tercets) and English (from 3 quatrains and the final couplet).

LYROEPIC TYPES (GENRES):

Poem, ballad.

POEM (from the Greek poieio - “I do, I create”) - a large poetic work with a narrative or lyrical plot, usually on a historical or legendary topic.
BALLAD - a story song of dramatic content, a story in verse.

TYPES (GENRES) OF DRAMA WORKS:

Tragedy, comedy, drama (in the narrow sense).

TRAGEDY (from the Greek tragos ode - “goat song”) is a dramatic work depicting a tense struggle of strong characters and passions, which usually ends with the death of the hero.
COMEDY (from the Greek komos ode - "fun song") - a dramatic work with a cheerful, funny plot, usually ridiculing social or domestic vices.
DRAMA (“action”) is a literary work in the form of a dialogue with a serious plot, depicting a person in her dramatic relationship with society. Drama may be tragicomedy or melodrama.
VAUDEVILLE - a genre variety of comedy, it is a light comedy with singing couplets and dancing.
Farce is a genre variety of comedy, it is a theatrical play of a light, playful nature with external comic effects, designed for a rude taste.

  • Roman Mstislavich Galitsky (c. 1150-19 June 1205) - Prince of Novgorod (1168-1170), Prince of Volyn (1170-1187,1188-1199), Galician (1188), first prince of Galicia-Volyn (from 1199-1205), Grand Duke of Kiev (1201, 1204).
  • Narrative work with a complex plot and many characters
  • A large narrative, fictional work with a complex plot
  • Literary work
  • Great creation of a venerable writer
  • AND male name, and literary work
  • Narrative work with a complex plot
  • Name, affair or great work
  • Name, affair and literary work
  • A literary work that "argues" with the saying "brevity is the sister of talent"
  • Piece of art
  • DIALECTISM

    • language feature speech interspersed in a work of art
      • Drama. UA is a contemporary drama festival that has been taking place in Lviv since 2010.
      • Literary and artistic work
      • Work for the theater
      • A literary work with a serious plot without a tragic outcome
      • Theatrical play, stage-oriented literary work - serious, with deep internal conflict
      • One of the three major genres of fiction
      • One of the main genres of fiction
      • A type of literary work written in dialogic form and intended to be performed by actors on stage
      • If someone was killed at the beginning of the work, then this is a child.
        • Installation (English installation - installation, placement, installation) - form contemporary art, which is a spatial composition created from various ready-made materials and forms (natural objects, industrial and household items, fragments of textual and visual information) and is an artistic whole.
        • A work of art that is a composition of various objects
  • Roman Mstislavich Galitsky (c. 1150-19 June 1205) - Prince of Novgorod (1168-1170), Prince of Volyn (1170-1187,1188-1199), Galician (1188), first prince of Galicia-Volyn (from 1199-1205), Grand Duke of Kiev (1201, 1204).
  • Narrative work with a complex plot and many characters
  • A large narrative, fictional work with a complex plot
  • Literary work
  • Great creation of a venerable writer
  • Both a male name and a literary work
  • Narrative work with a complex plot
  • Name, affair or great work
  • Name, affair and literary work
  • A literary work that "argues" with the saying "brevity is the sister of talent"
  • Piece of art
  • DIALECTISM

    • Linguistic feature of speech interspersed in a work of art
      • Drama. UA is a contemporary drama festival that has been taking place in Lviv since 2010.
      • Literary and artistic work
      • Work for the theater
      • A literary work with a serious plot without a tragic outcome
      • Theatrical play, stage-oriented literary work - serious, with deep internal conflict
      • One of the three major genres of fiction
      • One of the main genres of fiction
      • A type of literary work written in dialogic form and intended to be performed by actors on stage
      • If someone was killed at the beginning of the work, then this is a child.
        • Installation (English installation - installation, placement, installation) is a form of contemporary art, which is a spatial composition created from various ready-made materials and forms (natural objects, industrial and household items, fragments of textual and visual information) and is an artistic whole.
        • A work of art that is a composition of various objects