Literature
Definition
Literature refers to written works that
are considered to have artistic or intellectual value. It
includes various forms such as novels, poems, plays,
essays, and short stories. Literature is often studied for its
expressive language, themes, and insights into human
experiences, culture, and society.
Genres of Literature
1. Prose
Definition: Prose is the ordinary form of written or spoken language
without rhythm or rhyme, used in novels, essays, and stories.
Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Famous Writer: Charles Dickens
Famous Work: Great Expectations
Founder: No single founder, but Francis Bacon is known as the “father
of English prose” for essays.
Explanation & History: Prose is the most common form of writing, used
in novels, stories, essays, and articles. It developed naturally from speech.
In ancient times, it was used in philosophy and history (like Plato and
Herodotus). Prose became popular in literature during the 18th century
with novels. Today, it is used in both fiction and non-fiction
2. Poetry
Definition: Poetry is a form of literature that expresses
emotions, ideas, or stories using rhythm, rhyme, and vivid
language.
Example: Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Famous Writer: William Wordsworth
Famous Work: Lines Composed a Few Miles above
Tintern Abbey
,Founder: In English, Geoffrey Chaucer is often considered
the father of English poetry
Explanation & History: Poetry is one of the oldest forms
of literature. It began as an oral tradition to tell stories or
praise gods. Ancient poets like Homer in Greece and
Valmiki in India created epics. Poetry later evolved into
sonnets, odes, and free verse. It uses literary devices like
rhyme, meter, and imagery.
3. Drama
Definition: Drama is literature meant to be performed on
stage through dialogue and action.
Example: Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
Explanation & History: Drama began in ancient Greece
as part of religious festivals. It had two types: tragedy and
comedy. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were great
Greek dramatists. In England, Shakespeare brought drama
to its peak in the Renaissance. It combines speech,
emotion, and movement to tell stories.
Famous Work: Hamlet
Famous Writer: William Shakespeare
Founder: Aeschylus (father of Greek tragedy)
4. Fiction (Sub-genre of Prose)
Definition: Fiction is imaginative writing that tells a made-
up story.
Example: 1984 by George Orwell
Explanation & History: Fiction became a formal genre in
the 18th century. Earlier, stories were shared orally or in
epics. With the rise of printing, authors like Daniel Defoe
, and Samuel Richardson wrote early novels. Fiction includes
characters, plot, and setting—all invented by the writer.
Famous Work: 1984
Famous Writer: George Orwell
Founder: Daniel Defoe (wrote one of the first novels,
Robinson Crusoe)
5. Non-Fiction (Sub-genre of Prose)
Definition: Non-fiction is factual writing based on real
people, events, and information.
Example: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Explanation & History: Non-fiction started with ancient
historical records and philosophical texts. It grew during
the Enlightenment when essays and biographies became
popular. Writers like Montaigne created the essay form.
Today, it includes biographies, travel writing, journalism,
and memoirs.
Famous Work: The Diary of a Young Girl
Famous Writer: Anne Frank
Founder: Michel de Montaigne (pioneer of the essay form)
Poetry Genres
3. Narrative Poetry
Definition: A type of poetry that tells a story with
characters, events, and a plot.
Example: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel
Taylor Coleridge
Famous Writer: Homer
Definition
Literature refers to written works that
are considered to have artistic or intellectual value. It
includes various forms such as novels, poems, plays,
essays, and short stories. Literature is often studied for its
expressive language, themes, and insights into human
experiences, culture, and society.
Genres of Literature
1. Prose
Definition: Prose is the ordinary form of written or spoken language
without rhythm or rhyme, used in novels, essays, and stories.
Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Famous Writer: Charles Dickens
Famous Work: Great Expectations
Founder: No single founder, but Francis Bacon is known as the “father
of English prose” for essays.
Explanation & History: Prose is the most common form of writing, used
in novels, stories, essays, and articles. It developed naturally from speech.
In ancient times, it was used in philosophy and history (like Plato and
Herodotus). Prose became popular in literature during the 18th century
with novels. Today, it is used in both fiction and non-fiction
2. Poetry
Definition: Poetry is a form of literature that expresses
emotions, ideas, or stories using rhythm, rhyme, and vivid
language.
Example: Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Famous Writer: William Wordsworth
Famous Work: Lines Composed a Few Miles above
Tintern Abbey
,Founder: In English, Geoffrey Chaucer is often considered
the father of English poetry
Explanation & History: Poetry is one of the oldest forms
of literature. It began as an oral tradition to tell stories or
praise gods. Ancient poets like Homer in Greece and
Valmiki in India created epics. Poetry later evolved into
sonnets, odes, and free verse. It uses literary devices like
rhyme, meter, and imagery.
3. Drama
Definition: Drama is literature meant to be performed on
stage through dialogue and action.
Example: Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
Explanation & History: Drama began in ancient Greece
as part of religious festivals. It had two types: tragedy and
comedy. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were great
Greek dramatists. In England, Shakespeare brought drama
to its peak in the Renaissance. It combines speech,
emotion, and movement to tell stories.
Famous Work: Hamlet
Famous Writer: William Shakespeare
Founder: Aeschylus (father of Greek tragedy)
4. Fiction (Sub-genre of Prose)
Definition: Fiction is imaginative writing that tells a made-
up story.
Example: 1984 by George Orwell
Explanation & History: Fiction became a formal genre in
the 18th century. Earlier, stories were shared orally or in
epics. With the rise of printing, authors like Daniel Defoe
, and Samuel Richardson wrote early novels. Fiction includes
characters, plot, and setting—all invented by the writer.
Famous Work: 1984
Famous Writer: George Orwell
Founder: Daniel Defoe (wrote one of the first novels,
Robinson Crusoe)
5. Non-Fiction (Sub-genre of Prose)
Definition: Non-fiction is factual writing based on real
people, events, and information.
Example: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Explanation & History: Non-fiction started with ancient
historical records and philosophical texts. It grew during
the Enlightenment when essays and biographies became
popular. Writers like Montaigne created the essay form.
Today, it includes biographies, travel writing, journalism,
and memoirs.
Famous Work: The Diary of a Young Girl
Famous Writer: Anne Frank
Founder: Michel de Montaigne (pioneer of the essay form)
Poetry Genres
3. Narrative Poetry
Definition: A type of poetry that tells a story with
characters, events, and a plot.
Example: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel
Taylor Coleridge
Famous Writer: Homer
