Brief descriptions of the branches of literature for class presentations.

2. LITERATURE
Literature are written works that are considered to be
very good and to have lasting importance.

3. Literature that is written in the ordinary language.
Prose

4. Poetry
Writings in which words are arranged in a rhythmic
pattern. Predominantly, sentences are metaphorical.

5. Fiction
Works that are imagined by the writer and is not true

6. Fantasy
Works that are produced by the imagination of the
writer.

7. Mystery
Deals with the solution of a crime

8. Science-Fiction
Set typically in the future or on other planets.

9. Myth
Stories which usually contains gods and goddesses
and was told in ancient times.

10. Short Stories
Usually deal with few characters and often just
concentrate on the mood rather than the plot.

11. Parable
Teaches moral or spiritual lessons, especially those
told by Jesus and recorded in the Bible.

12. Folktales
Traditional Stories.

13. Fable
Stories which main characters are animals and
intended to teach lessons.

14. Fairy Tale
Children’s stories that contains magic or magical
creatures.

15. Used to rationalize the origins of things.
Legend

16. Tall Tale
Sometimes called Anecdote. Stories that are told in a
humorous and exaggerated mean.

17. Non-Fiction
Opposite of Fiction. Events or characters that exists or
existed in real life.

18. Biography
Story of a person’s life written by another person.

19. Autobiography
Story of a person’s life written by the same person

20. Essay
Piece of writing that tells a person’s thoughts and
opinions about a subject.

21. Encyclopedia
A reference work that contains information about
many subjects.

22. Textbook
Book about a particular subject that is used for study.

23. Magazine
Thin book that contains stories, essays, pictures, etc.,
that is usually published every week or month.

24. Brochure
Thin magazine that has many pictures and
information about a product, place, etc.

25. Newspaper
Set of paper that have news stories, information
about local events, advertisement, etc.

26. Research Report
A story that is descriptive about a topic

27. Atlas
A book of maps

28. Memoir
A written work in which someone describe past
experiences

29. Editorial
Essay in a newspaper or magazine that gives opinons
of its editors or publishers

30. Advertisement
Shown to the public to help sell a product or to make
an announcement

31. Lyric
Poem that expresses deep personal feelings in a way
that is like a song

32. Simple Lyric
Other Lyric Poetry that does not properly fall into
other categories.

33. Song
Piece of music with words that are sung

34. Sonnet
Poem made of 14 lines that rhyme in a fixed pattern

35. Elegy
A sad poem or song for someone who is dead

36. Ode
A poem in which a person expresses a strong feeling
of love or respect for someone or something

37. Narrative
Something that is narrated

38. Ballad
Slow song about love

39. Metrical Romance
Arranged in a rhythmic pattern of beats

40. Epic
Poem that tells the story of a hero’s adventures

41. Dramatic
Something that is sudden and extreme

42. Soliloquy
A long speech that a character in a play makes to an
audience that reveals the character’s thoughts

43. Character Sketch
A short and terse description of characters in a story

44. Comedy
Something that is meant to make people laugh

45. Tragedy
A very bad event that causes great sadness