Literary Forms + Genres

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

A narrative in which a literal meaning corresponds clearly and directly to a symbolic meaning

Question 2

Anecdote

Answer 2

The brief narration of a single event or incident

Question 3

Autobiography

Answer 3

The non-fictional story of a persons life, as told by that person

Question 4

Ballad

Answer 4

Traditionally, a folk song telling a story or legend in simple language, often with a refrain

Question 5

Biography

Answer 5

The non-fictional story of a persons life

Question 6

Black comedy

Answer 6

Disturbing or absurd material presented in a humorous manner, usually with the intention to comfort uncomfortable truths

Question 7

Burlesque

Answer 7

A humorous imitation of a serious work of literature; humor arises from the incongruity between the imitation and the work being imitated

Question 8

Confessional poetry

Answer 8

Autobiographical poetic genre in which the poet discusses intensely personal subject matter with unusual frankness

Question 9

Dirge

Answer 9

A short poetic expression of grief; different from an elegy, in that it is often embedded in a larger work, is less highly structured, and is meant to be sung

Question 10

Drama

Answer 10

A composition meant to be performed; often used interchangeably with play, but also includes radio broadcast, comedy sketches, and opera

Question 11

Dramatic monologue

Answer 11

Poem containing words that a fictional or historical character speaks to a particular audience

Question 12

Dystopic literature

Answer 12

Genre fiction that presents an imagined future society that purports to be perfect and utopian but which the author presents to the reader as horrifyingly in human

Question 13

Elegy

Answer 13

A formal poem that

laments the death of a friend or public figure, or, occasionally, and meditation on death itself

Question 14

Epic

Answer 14

A lengthy narrative that describes the deeds of a heroic figure, often of national or cultural importance, and elevated language

Question 15

Epistle

Answer 15

Letters written with the intent for widespread publication

Question 16

Fable

Answer 16

A short pros or verse narrative, illustrating a moral which is often stated explicitly at the end; frequently, the characters are animals embodying different human character traits

Question 17

Fiction

Answer 17

Invented narrative

Question 18

Legend

Answer 18

A story about a heroic figure, usually derived from oral tradition, and usually based partly in fact and partly in fiction

Question 19

Memoir

Answer 19

In autobiographical work, focusing on the authors involvement in historical events and the characterization of characters other than the author

Question 20

Myth

Answer 20

A story about a cultures believes and practices, or of supernatural phenomenon, usually derived from oral tradition and set in an imagined supernatural past

Question 21

Nonfiction

Answer 21

Narrative work reporting true events

Question 22

Novel

Answer 22

fictional prose narrative of significant length

Question 23

Bildungsroman

Answer 23

(German) ‘ Formation novel’; novel about a child or adolescent development into maturity, with special focus on the protagonist quest for identity

Question 24

Novel of manners

Answer 24

A novel focused on the social customs of a certain class of people, often with a sharp eye for irony

Question 25

Social protest novel

Answer 25

A novel in which the authors aim is to tell a story that illuminates and draws attention to contemporary social problems with the goal of inciting change for the better

Question 26

Verse novel

Answer 26

Full length fictional work that is novelistic in nature but written inverse rather than pros

Question 27

Novella

Answer 27

A work of fiction of middle length, often divided into a few short chapters

Question 28

Ode

Answer 28

A serious lyric poem, often of significant length, usually comforting to an elaborate metrical structure

Question 29

Parable

Answer 29

A short narrative illustrating a moral by means of allegory

Question 30

Pastoral

Answer 30

A celebration of the simple, rustic life

Question 31

Comedy

Answer 31

A lighthearted play characterized by humor and a happy ending

Question 32

Farce

Answer 32

High energy comedy that plays on confusions and deceptions between characters and features a convoluted and fast-paced plot; often incorporates buffoonery, slapstick, and stock characters to provoke uproarious laughter

Question 33

Tragedy

Answer 33

A serious play which ends on happily for the protagonist

Question 34

Tragicomedy

Answer 34

A play which mixes tragedy and comedy

Question 35

A one act play

Answer 35

A play consisting of a single act, without intermission and running usually less than an hour

Question 36

Propaganda

Answer 36

It work of didactic literature that aims to influence the reader on a specific social or political issue

Question 37

Prose

Answer 37

Any composition not written in verse

Question 38

Prose poem

Answer 38

A poetic work that features the strong rhythms of free verse but is presented on the page in the form of pros, without line breaks

Question 39

romance

Answer 39

A non-realistic story, in verse or pros, featuring idealize characters, improbable aventures, and exotic settings

Question 40

Chivalric romance

Answer 40

A romance which describes the adventures of medieval knights and celebrate their strict code of honor, loyalty, and respectful devotion to women

Question 41

Satire

Answer 41

Work which exposes to ridicule the shortcomings of individuals, institutions, or society, often to make a political point

Question 42

Science-fiction

Answer 42

Fictions it in an alternate reality often a technologically advanced one and that contains fantastic events

Question 43

short story

Answer 43

It work of prose Fiction that is much shorter than a novel and focused more tightly on a single event

Question 44

Short-short story

Answer 44

Particularly compressed and truncated story, rarely longer than 1000 words

Question 45

Soliloquy

Answer 45

A speech, often a verse, by lone character, expressing his or her thoughts