This document provides examples of different literary terms and genres including: 1) Playwright Ben Jonson and his play Volpone from 1606. 2) Fulke Greville's closet drama Mustapha printed in 1609. 3) Oscar Wilde's 1895 high comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. 4) Definitions and examples are given for various literary genres and terms such as comedies, tragedies, novels, poems, and satire.

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UNIT 1 - LITERARY TERMS Click here for the Term Definitions
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Playwright Examples
Playwright Name Ben Jonson Name of Play Volpone
E
Years lived 6/11/1572 to 8/6/1637 Year of play 1606 N
G
Source www.wikipedia.com
+
Playwright Name William Shakespeare Name of Play Macbeth A
D
V
Years lived (Birth date unknown) to 4/23/1616 Year of play Anywhere from 1603 to 1607
Source www.wikipedia.com
Closet Drama Example
Playwright Name Fulke Greville Name of Closet Drama Mustapha E
N
G
Years lived 1554-1628 Year of play Printed in 1609
+
Why is this classified A
It is classified as a closet drama because it would more commonly be read than performed.
as a Closet Drama? D
V
Source www.bartleby.com
High Comedy Example
Playwright Name Oscar Wilde Name of High Comedy The Importance of Being Earnest A
D
V
Years lived 10/16/1854 to 11/30/1900 Year of play 1895
O
N
Why is this classified L
It is a High Comedy because it uses wit and makes fun of the rules of society.
as a High Comedy? Y
Source www.wikipedia.com
Low Comedy Example
Playwright Name Patrick Barlow Name of Low Comedy The 39 Steps A
D
V
Years lived 3/18/1947 to present Year of play Re-adapted in 2005
O
N
Why is this classified L
It uses more of a physical type of humor and not really the witty type.
as a Low Comedy? Y
Source www.wikipedia.com

2. Romantic Comedy Example
Playwright Name Bernard Slade Name of Play Romantic Comedy E
N
G
Years lived 5/2/1939 to present Year of play 1979
+
Why is this classified as a Because it is about two playwrights meeting and becoming humorously and romantically A
Romantic Comedy? involved. D
V
Source www.wikipedia.com
Comedy of Manners Example
Playwright Name Name of Play A
D
V
Years lived Year of play
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Comedy of Manners? Y
Source
What is an example of a
Why?
stock character?
E
N
G
What is an example of a
Why?
stock character? +
A
D
What is an example of a
Why? V
stock character?
Classical Tragedy Example
Playwright Name Name of Play
Years lived Year of play
A
D
V
Why is this classified as a
Classical Tragedy? O
N
Source L
Y
Define HUBRIS

3. Revenge Tragedy Example
Playwright Name Name of Play A
D
V
Years lived Year of play
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Revenge Tragedy? Y
Source
Domestic Tragedy Example
Playwright Name Name of Play A
D
V
Years lived Year of play
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Domestic Tragedy? Y
Source
Tragicomedy Example
Playwright Name Name of Play E
N
G
Years lived Year of play
+
Why is this classified as a A
Tragicomedy? D
V
Source
Theatre of the Absurd Example
Playwright Name Name of Play A
D
V
Years lived Year of play
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Theatre of the Absurd? Y
Source

4. Non Fiction Example
Author's Name Name of Book E
N
G
Years lived Year of Book
+
Why is this classified as A
Non Fiction? D
V
Source
Bildungsroman Example
Author's Name Name of Book A
D
V
Years lived Year of Book
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Bildungsroman? Y
Source
Historical Novel Example
Author's Name Name of Book A
D
V
Years lived Year of Book
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Historical Novel? Y
Source
Epistolary Novel Example
Author's Name Name of Book A
D
V
Years lived Year of Book
O
N
Why is this classified as a L
Epistolary Novel? Y
Source

5. Short Story Example
Author's Name Name of Book E
N
G
Years lived Year of Book
+
Why is this classified as a A
Short Story? D
V
Source
Novella Example
Author's Name Name of Book E
N
G
Years lived Year of Book
+
Why is this classified as a A
Novella? D
V
Source
Epic Poetry Example
Poet's Name Name of Poem E
N
G
Years lived Year of Poem
+
Why is this classified as A
an Epic Poem? D
V
Source
Dramatic Poetry Example
Poet's Name Name of Poem E
N
G
Years lived Year of Poem
+
Why is this classified as A
Dramatic Poetry? D
V
Source

6. Lyric Poetry Example
Poet's Name Name of Poem E
N
G
Years lived Year of Poem
+
Why is this classified as a A
Lyric Poem? D
V
Source
Dramatic Monlogue Example
Poet's Name Name of Poem A
D
V
Years lived Year of Poem
O
N
Why is this classified as L
Dramatic Monlogue? Y
Source
Epigram Example
A
Example
D
V
Author
O
N
Why is this classified as L
an Epigram? Y
Source
Example
Author
Why is this classified as
an Epigram?
Source

7. Satire Example
E
Example of something
N
satiric or an example of
G
a prose that contains
satire
+
A
Author
D
V
Why is this classified as
Satire?
Source
Example of something
satiric or an example of
a prose that contains
satire
Author
Why is this classified as
Satire?
Source