We explain what literary genres are and what the subgenres of each one are. Also, its main characteristics.
Aristotle was the first to categorize literary genres in 335 BC.
What are literary genres?
The literary genres are categories that allow the classification of literary texts depending on its theme, content, length or tone.
In addition to ordering texts into groups, literary genres allow giving a frame of reference to the reader and writer of a work, because they maintain a structure that characterizes and defines them.
Classification into literary genres It formally emerged around 335 BC. c. with Aristotle, who in his book The Poetics He divided literature into four types of genres: epic, lyrical, dramatic and didactic.
Over time, genres and subgenres have mutated, ceased to exist or new ones have emergedIt is necessary to know how they were categorized from the beginning in order to then measure the diversity of options that have emerged until today.
See also: Narrative text
Types of genres and their characteristics
The main characteristics of the literary genres proposed by Aristotle were:
- The epic or narrative genre. It consisted of narratives that told a true or fictitious story, especially related to heroic events of antiquity. The themes of nationalism, collective feelings and traditions predominated. Nowadays, this genre is recognized as the novel.
- The lyrical genre. It consisted of the description of emotions and feelings through poetry, which was structured in prose, and through the use of various stylistic resources, such as metaphor or comparison. The plot of the poems could be abstract because the purpose was not to tell a story per se, but to transmit certain emotions regarding an event.
- The dramatic genre. It consisted of a dialogue between characters who took action on a stage and performed a play or story in front of an audience. The objective was to entertain or move the public.
- The didactic genre. It consisted of a description that sought to explain or make known an idea to convince the reader. He did not prioritize stylistic resources or the type of narrative, but rather emphasized the writer’s ability to convince the reader of his hypothesis. Currently this genre is recognized with the essay.
Subtypes of literary genres
In his written work The Poetics, Aristotle proposed literary genres and subgenres.
Aristotle proposed various subtypes of literary categories within each genre, in order to better understand each one and guide the spectator or reader about what the work they would see or read would be about.
The organization in subgenres It also allowed writers to optimize their linguistic resources. based on narrative structures to better develop the style that defined them.
Both genres and subgenres have evolved over time and, currently, there is a more extensive classification.
Epic subgenres
According to Aristotle, the main epic subgenres were:
- The story. Brief narrative that told the development and end of an event, with the intervention of a few characters.
- The novel. A longer narrative than a story with a more complex plot that included descriptions and thoughts of the characters (which were usually numerous).
- The epic poem. Description that sought to transmit emotions in a solemn and formal way, through stories with feats that exalted patriotism.
- The epic poem. Adventure stories with particular characters, which used to be more informal and fun for the reader compared to tales.
- The lyrical romance. Narrations that included varied and even antagonistic themes, such as war events, love affairs and disagreements, which sought to immerse the reader in an adventure novel.
Lyrical subgenres
The ode generated a deeper reflection in the audience than the song.
According to Aristotle, the main lyrical subgenres were:
- The song. Related to love issues, feelings or emotions.
- The ode Related to deeper and more solemn reflections on love and sacrifice.
- The elegy. Related to melancholic issues, misfortunes or laments for the loss of a loved one.
- The satire. Related to funny themes that alluded to the time, through irony or mockery towards one of the characters.
- The anthem. Related to patriotic or religious feelings that identified a population or group.
Dramatic subgenres
According to Aristotle, the main dramatic subgenres were:
- The comedy. It represented a conflict or plot, but with a lighthearted and fun approach. It was characterized by having a happy ending.
- The drama. It represented dramatic conflicts, such as heartbreak, family problems or abandonment, which included short comic intervals.
- The tragedy. It represented tragic conflicts, especially those related to royalty, nobility or powerful sectors of society that ended with a fatal outcome.
Didactic Subgenres
Oratory was based on the skill and eloquence of the speaker.
According to Aristotle, the main didactic subgenres were:
- The biography. A text that describes a person’s life, but is written by someone else. When an individual writes his or her own life story, it is called an autobiography.
- Essay. Text that was written in solemn and formal prose and that synthesized a hypothesis or new topic to be known.
- The chronic. Text that compiled various events that were narrated in chronological order.
- Oratory. Speech that was based on the skill and eloquence of the speaker to attract the attention of an audience and get them to accept his idea or hypothesis.