Lit Device 1

Introduction to
literature
Genre / Literary devices

Topics
• Genre
• Figure of speech Definition &
• Literary device Characteristics
• Poetic device
GENRE
• Genre (pronounced ˈzhän-rə) is derived from the French, meaning “kind” or “type.”
• What is a Genre?
A genre is a category of literature identified by form, content, and style.
• Types and Examples of Genres
Literature could be divided into countless genres and subgenres, but these are the main genres
which preside over most subgenres. Here are the main genres in literature:
a. Poetry
b. Prose
c. Drama
d. Short story
POETRY
- is a literary form that uses structured language to express emotions, ideas, or stories
in a way that is often characterized by rhythm, meter, sound, and vivid imagery.
1. Lyric Poetry expresses personal emotions, thoughts, and feelings, often in a

direct and subjective manner. It is typically written in the first person and is not
narrative in nature.
2. Narrative Poetry tells a story, often with characters, a plot, and a setting. It is
typically written in verse form and may include elements like dialogue and description.
Poetry
Subgenres
• Ode: A type of lyric poem that addresses or celebrates a person, event, or thing,
often in a formal or dignified tone (e.g., Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats).
• Elegy: A mournful or reflective poem, often written in honor of someone who has
passed away (e.g., Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray).
• Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, often exploring themes
of love, beauty, or philosophy (e.g., Shakespeare’s sonnets, The Parting" by
Michael Drayton, “When I Consider How My Light is Spent” - John Milton ).
• (Narrative Poetry) Ballad: A shorter, narrative poem often set to music,
focusing on a dramatic event, typically with a simple rhyme and meter (e.g.,
“Robinhood & The Monk” Robert Jamieson).
Prose
Prose in literature refers to a form of written or spoken language that is

not structured by meter, rhyme, or verse. It is the most natural form of
language, used in everyday communication.
Types of Prose in Literature:
Novels
Short Stories
Examples
“How Much Land Does a Man Need? ” Leo Tolstoy
“The Diamond Necklace” Guy de Maupassant
“Garden Party” Katherine Mansfield
Essays: “Dream-Children: A Reverie” Charles Lamb
Biographies: I’M MALALA
ESSAY
A short piece of writing that reflects the author's personal thoughts or arguments on a
particular subject. Essays can be formal or informal, and they often aim to persuade or inform.
In prose, both aphoristic essays and personal essays are types of writing that focus on
individual reflection, opinion, or insight.
• Personal Essay: A reflective or autobiographical work in which the writer explores personal
experiences, opinions, or reflections (“Dream-Children: A Reverie” Charles Lamb).
• An aphoristic essay style means a compact, condensed and epigrammatic style of writing.
An aphorism is like a proverb which has a quotable quality. Bacon excels in this kind of
writing.
• Critical Essay: Analyzes and evaluates a piece of literature, art, or social phenomenon.
• Descriptive Essay: Focuses on vividly describing a person, place, event, or object.
• Argumentative Essay: A persuasive essay that aims to convince the reader to adopt a
particular viewpoint or opinion.
DRAMA
• Drama is a genre of literature that is intended to be performed
by actors on a stage or through other mediums, like film or
television. It involves the portrayal of conflict, emotions, and
human experiences, often through dialogue and action.
The main types of drama are:
comedy
tragedy
tragicomedy
Comedy
- is a type of drama that is primarily intended to entertain and amuse the audience. It
often involves
humorous situations, witty dialogue, and light-hearted themes, and typically ends with a happy
resolution.
• Comedies frequently feature misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and social satire, and are
designed to provoke laughter.
EXAMPLE :The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Characteristics:
• Happy ending: Comedies generally conclude with a resolution that restores order or happiness.
• Humor and wit: Comedies use humor, wordplay, and often exaggerate situations or characters for
comic effect.
• Ordinary characters: Characters are typically common people who are caught in amusing situations
or conflicts.
• Themes: Common themes in comedy include love, marriage, social norms, and human folly.
Tragedy is a type of drama that explores serious themes
like human suffering, downfall, and the consequences of flaws or
poor choices, often ending in catastrophe or death. It typically
depicts the fall of a noble or heroic character.
Tragicomedy blends elements of both tragedy and

comedy, presenting serious themes with moments of humor or
lightness. The outcome of a tragicomedy can mix both happiness
and despair. This combination creates a complex emotional
experience for the audience.
Short story
A brief narrative, usually focused on a single event, theme, or
character. Short stories tend to have a concise plot and are often used to
explore a single idea or emotion.
Types
• Flash Fiction: Extremely short stories, typically under 1,000 words,
that convey a full narrative in a very brief space.
• Fable: A short, allegorical tale often featuring animals with human
qualities, meant to teach a moral lesson (e.g., Aesop's Fables).
• Parable: Similar to a fable, but typically religious or philosophical in
nature, teaching a deeper moral lesson (e.g., The Prodigal Son from
the Bible).
• Fairy Tale: A fictional story, often involving magical elements,
fantastical creatures, and moral lessons (e.g., Cinderella).
Features of Short Stories
Brevity
Single Plot
Limited Characters
Focused Setting
Conflict
Theme
Economy of Language
Twist or Resolution
Literary device is a technique used by writers to convey meaning,
enhance their writing, and create a particular effect on the reader. These
tools help structure the narrative, develop characters, emphasize themes, and
evoke emotions. Literary devices can be found in both poetry and prose, and
they include various forms of figurative language, narrative techniques, and
rhetorical strategies.
Common Types of Literary Devices:

• Simile: A comparison between two things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Her smile was as bright as
the sun").
• Metaphor: A direct comparison between two things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Time is a
thief").
• Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity
(e.g., "She sells seashells by the seashore").
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things or abstract concepts (e.g., "The
wind whispered through the trees").
• Irony: A contrast between appearance and reality, often used to create surprise or emphasize a
point (e.g., a fire station burning down).
Common Types of Literary Devices:
• Foreshadowing: Hinting at events that will occur later in the story to

build suspense (e.g., a character’s nervousness before a big event).
• Symbolism: Using an object, character, or event to represent a deeper
meaning (e.g., a dove representing peace).
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect (e.g., "I’ve told
you a million times").
• Allegory: A narrative in which characters, events, or settings symbolize
abstract ideas or moral qualities (e.g., Animal Farm by George Orwell).
• Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate the sounds they describe (e.g., "buzz,"
"clang," "sizzle").
Figure of speech
• A figure of speech is a literary device in which language is used
in an unusual—or "figured"—way in order to produce a stylistic
effect. Figures of speech can be broken into two main groups:
• TROPES: figures of speech that play with the ordinary meaning
of words (such as metaphor, simile, and hyperbole),
• SCHEMES: figures of speech that play with the ordinary
arrangement or pattern in which words are written (such as
alliteration, ellipsis, and antithesis).

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Introduction to

Genre / Literary devices

1. Lyric Poetry expresses personal emotions, thoughts, and feelings, often in a

Prose in literature refers to a form of written or spoken language that is

Tragicomedy blends elements of both tragedy and

Common Types of Literary Devices:

• Foreshadowing: Hinting at events that will occur later in the story to

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