Mass literature: genres of books

Genres of books professionally study literary criticism. They dialectically evolved, since the time of Aristotle. Most modern genres of books are referred to the so-called mass literature. Its development is determined by the demand of the market. In addition, any genre of artistic literature is attributed to three genera: epic, dramatic and lyrical. But sometimes the genre is attributed to several kinds of literature. For example, and to the lyrical, and to the epic. Therefore, some literary scholars distinguish the fourth type of literature: lyric-epic.

This concept is characterized by its own characteristics: meaningful and formal. Based on the form of the work, the genres of books can be represented by a certain sequence of them.

Works of small prose

The story is the leading genre of works of small prose narrative character, uniting several subgenres (sometimes they are singled out as independent). The name "novella" is preferable for small stories with a distinct author's style, as well as the conflict resolved in this work. An essay is called an artistic-documentary story describing the environment of human habitation with real people and events. Usually stories when they are published are grouped into cycles.

Essays - a product of small narrative prose, showing the author's opinion in relation to certain events or personalities. Such a work presents thoughts, conclusions and conclusions of the author. Some critics identify essays with essays, others identify in a separate genre.

Novels and novels

A novel is an unfolded prosaic (usually) work, revealing the dialectic of the personality of the protagonist, overcoming various challenges, the formation of personality over long periods of time. The genres of novels are quite diverse both in the national aspect (Russian, English, French, German), and in the subject area (psychological, love, knightly romance). There is a genre of novel-epic, when several novels are combined in a cycle.

The story, an epic work showing the characteristics of the development of the individual, is given an intermediate position between the story and the novel. Usually the narrative in the story is centered around the image of the protagonist.

Dramatic works

The play is the work of a playwright and is intended for its production in a theater (classical or in a television or radio theater). Subgenre of the play is comedy, tragedy, drama. The drama is characterized by everyday story and style inherent in ordinary life. Comedy differs humorous or satirical stylistics, inside it there are subgenres: vaudeville, interlude, operetta, parody, sketch, farce.

Tragedy - pathos product, revealing a sharpening of internal contradictions, leading to a tragic outcome; It is called to cause a feeling of compassion.

Poetic (lyric) works

Works that have a poetic form are grouped by the authors into collections of poems.

• The poem is an epic work written in verse form.
• Ode - a solemn, pathetic poem.
• Fable - a poem with an instructive hrakterom.
• Ballad - a romantic work in a poetic form.
• Stanza - verses, each line of which carries an independent meaning.
• Elegy expresses sadness, a complaint.
• Epigram is a poem of a satirical nature.

Instead of concluding

Speaking about subspecies of genres, we had in mind their classification by content. The above classification of genres can be interpreted as basic, but the dogmatic approach is not welcome in literary criticism. The post-industrial era has left its imprint on the literary process, including in the form of a mixture of genres.

The article shows the most numerous genres of books in the mass literature . List of the works themselves in the context of genres is not given for understandable reasons. The presentation of the most famous, rating books can be subject to a whole series of articles.

How can a novice reader decide which genre he likes best? We recommend him to read three or four rating books in each genre and thus determine his own preferences.