Genre
Literary term · say it ZHAHN-ruh
Genre is a category of literature whose works share features such as form, subject, or patterns of plot. It can describe broad groups, such as poetry and drama, or narrower ones, such as detective stories and Gothic fiction.
Some common genre groups
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction brings together fear, mystery, and threatening places. Strange events often leave characters unsure of what is real.
In Wuthering Heights, Lockwood dreams of Catherine's ghost at a bedroom window, linking the lonely house with fear and the supernatural.
In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Detective fiction
Detective fiction centres on a mystery and the search for an explanation. Clues, suspects, and misleading appearances guide the reader toward a solution.
In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes discovers that the terrifying hound is a real dog treated with phosphorus to make it glow.
In The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Bildungsroman
A Bildungsroman follows a young person's growth toward adulthood. Mistakes, relationships, and hard lessons shape the central character's understanding.
In Great Expectations, Pip learns that Magwitch, rather than Miss Havisham, has provided his fortune, forcing him to rethink his ideas about wealth and worth.
In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
How to spot genre
- Identify the work's form, such as a poem, play, or novel.
- Look for familiar subjects, settings, and patterns of plot.
- Compare those features with other books, allowing for more than one genre.
Can a book belong to more than one genre?
Yes, a book can belong to several genres at once. A novel might combine a love story with a mystery, or a coming-of-age story with Gothic fiction. Genre labels describe shared features rather than strict boxes.
What is the difference between genre and theme?
Genre is a category of literature, while theme is an idea a work explores. A detective novel belongs to a genre because of its mystery and investigation; its themes might include justice, loyalty, or the dangers of judging by appearances.
Related terms
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