Genre is a category of composition, whether that is artistic, literary, or musical. A genre is defined by its style, content, and approach to its subject matter.

- a
- AutobiographyAn autobiography is an account of one’s life written by the subject. Read More
- b
- BildungsromanA bildungsroman is a literary genre that focuses on coming of age stories, following a character's progression towards adulthood. Read More
- BiographyA biography is an account or description of a person's life, literary, fictional, historical, or popular in nature, written by a biographer. Read More
- c
- ComedyComedy is a humorous and entertaining genre of literature, film, and television. Read More
- Confessional PoetryConfessional Poetry is a style of poetry that is personal, often making use of a first-person narrator. It is a branch of Postmodernism that emerged in the US in(...) Read More
- d
- DramaDrama is a mode of storytelling that uses dialogue and performance. It’s one of several important literary genres that authors engage with. Read More
- DystopiaA dystopia is the opposite of a utopia. It is an imagined place or community in which the majority of the people suffer. Read More
- e
- ElegyAn elegy, in literature, is a poem or song that is written in dedication to someone who has died. Read More
- Epic PoetryAn epic is a long narrative poem that tells the story of heroic deeds, normally accomplished by more-than-human characters. Read More
- EpistolaryAn epistolary novel is a book made up of a series of documents, usually letters, diary entires, or newspaper clippings. Read More
- f
- FableA fable is a short and concise story that provides the reader with a moral lesson at the end. Read More
- Fairy TaleFairy tales are short stories that include fanciful and magical elements such as goblins, elves, fairies, and ogres. Read More
- FantasyFantasy is a literary genre that includes talking animals, magic, and other worlds. It includes plots that couldn’t take place in the real world. Read More
- FarceA farce is a genre of comedic literature. It uses exaggerated and outrageous situations to create humor and make the audience laugh. Read More
- FolkloreFolklore refers to stories that people tell. These include folk stores, fairy tales, urban legends, and more. Read More
- g
- GothicGothic literature, poetry, and prose is that which deals with themes of death, the supernatural, sorrow, fear, loss, and more. Read More
- h
- Historical FictionHistorical Fiction is a genre that fictionalizes real places, people, and events. It takes place in the past with accurate historical details in regard to customs,(...) Read More
- HomilyA homily is a speech delivered by a religious person, usually a priest, in front of a group of people. Read More
- HorrorHorror is a genre of fiction that plays with human fear, feelings of terror, dread, and repulsion to entertain the audience. Read More
- l
- LampoonA lampoon is a type of satire in which a person or thing is attacked unjustly. They can be found in prose and verse. Read More
- LegendA legend is a genre of folklore that features stories about human events and actions. Read More
- Lyric PoemA lyric poem is a musically inclined, short verse that speaks on poignant and powerful emotions. Read More
- m
- Magical RealismMagical Realism is a genre of fiction writing that is interested in imbuing the modern realistic world with magical, fantastical elements. Read More
- MelodramaA melodrama is a work of literature or a theatrical performance that uses exaggerated events and characters. Read More
- MetafictionMetafiction refers to stories in which the characters, author, or narrator acknowledge the fact that they're parts of a fiction. Read More
- Morality PlayA morality play is a genre of theatre popular in the medieval and Tudor period. Read More
- MythA myth is a genre of folklore that usually includes a hero and sometimes fanatical elements. Read More
- MythopoeiaMythopoeia is a genre of modern literature (and film) that refers to the creation of artificial mythology. Read More
- n
- NaturalismNaturalism is a nineteenth-century literary and arts genre that focuses on the realistic depiction of life and all its struggles Read More
- NovelA novel is a long, written, fictional narrative that includes some amount of realism. Read More
- NovellaA novella is a prose, fiction work that’s shorter than a novel and longer than a short story. Read More
- Nursery RhymeA nursery rhyme is a short rhyming song or poem that conveys a lesson or tells an amusing story. They are aimed at children. Read More
- p
- PaeanA paean expresses thanks, elation, or triumph through the form of a song or lyrical poem. Read More
- ParodyA parody is created based on an already existing work in order to make fun of it. Read More
- PasticheA pastiche is a literary creation that imitates a famous work by another author. Read More
- PastoralPastoral poetry is a genre or mode of poetry that refers to works that idealize country life and the landscape they take place in. Read More
- Penny DreadfulPenny dreadfuls were a cheap, serialized form of literature popular in the nineteenth century. Read More
- Picaresque NovelA picaresque novel is a genre of prose fiction that depicts a roughish hero who experiences episodic adventures. Read More
- Play (Theatre)A play is a form of writing for theatre. It is divided into acts and scenes. Read More
- ProseProse is a written and spoken language form that does not make use of a metrical pattern or rhyme scheme. Read More
- r
- RomanceRomance is a narrative genre of literature. It can feature elements that include mystery, adventure, bravery, and more. Read More
- s
- Science FictionScience fiction is a literary genre that focuses on imaginative content based in science. Read More
- t
- TragedyThe word “tragedy” refers to a type of drama that explores serious, sometimes dark, and depressing subject matter. Read More
- u
- UtopiaThe word “utopia” refers to a perfect, or nearly perfect, place or ideal. Read More
- w
- What is a Poem?A poem can be written down or spoken aloud. It is a collection of ideas and emotions in a creative way. Read More