Main Types of Literature and Their Characteristics

1. The Literary Genres

Literary genres are the different possibilities for an author to present their work, reflecting the attitude they wish to communicate.

Types of Literary Genres

• Lyrical Genre
• Dramatic Genre
• Narrative Genre
• Didactic Genre (developed by some scholars)

The Lyrical Genre

Poets resort to the lyrical genre to express their subjectivity and feelings, introducing the reader to intimate personal experiences, usually from their own lives. It is typically written in verse.

The Dramatic Genre

In the dramatic genre, the author sets the scene for characters represented by actors, using dialogue to drive the action. Theatrical works can be written in both prose and verse.

The Narrative Genre

The narrative genre tells us, often with objectivity, the history of one or more characters occurring in specific places. It can be written in prose and verse.

The Didactic Genre

In the didactic genre, the author aims to provide the reader with education and instruction.

2. Literary Subgenres

2.1 Lyrical Subgenres

• The Elegy: Expresses feelings of grief regarding a death or misfortune. Example: Verses on the Death of His Father by Jorge Manrique.
• The Ode: Expresses feelings of melancholy, sadness, anger, or despair before external or internal events. Example: Fernando de Herrera.
• The Eclogue: Exposes feelings of love that the poet puts into the mouths of shepherds in a bucolic setting. Example: Garcilaso de la Vega.
• Satire: Censures faults or defects in a burlesque manner, sometimes with moralistic purposes. Example: Francisco de Quevedo.
• The Epithalamium: Expresses joy and good wishes for a wedding celebration. Example: Leandro Fernández de Moratín.

2.2 Dramatic Subgenres

• Tragedy: Usually ends with the death of the protagonist.
• Drama: Features conflict between characters, but with less intensity.
• Comedy: Mixes serious conflicts with amusing situations. Example: Miguel Mihura.

2.3 Narrative Subgenres

• The Epic: Recounts a landmark in the history of a people. Few works can truly be called epics. Examples: The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.
• The Chanson de Geste
• Romances

2.4 Modern Narrative Subgenres

• The Short Story
• The Novel

2.5 Didactic Subgenres

• The Fable: A short narrative in verse or prose.
• The Epistle
• The Essay