Although ‘literature’ can be the name given to any written work, it applies especially to artistic or intellectual pieces of writing. The language that is used in literature is different to the one we use in ordinary settings. The difference between them is that in literature, artistic tools are used to create aesthetic beauty.
Here are the main types of literature:
Drama: In literature, drama is a play and it is composed by a playwright, this means they can portray fictional or nonfictional stories. Drama can be used to explain certain events, characters, or stories using dialogues. There are different types of Drama:
- Comedy: In Drama, Comedy applies a lighter tone, and its purpose is to provide humour and amusement.
- Tragedy: In Drama, Tragedy tends to have a darker theme, usually portraying pain, suffering and sometimes death.
- Musical Drama: In Drama, Musical Dramas tell a story with songs, music, dance and dialogues.
- Melodrama: In Drama, Melodrama will portray emotions in an exaggerated way, often seen as tension or excitement. These emotions echo through the audience and will make them more indulgent.
Autobiography: The author, or teller of the story is usually who the story is about and you get a description of their life from their own perspective. This gives you an insight into someone’s life on a more personal level.
Poetry: In literature, Poetry is the composition of rhythm, sound and lyrics. Poetry is usually aesthetic and the poet will choose their words carefully so the reader can relate to them. The main types of poetry are: sonnets, haiku, free verse and acrostic poems.
Science Fiction: Also known as ‘sci-fi’, this type of literature relies mostly on imagination and fantasy. They often tie into real scientific laws and they equally rely on imaginations based on assumptions.
Prose: This is the form of literature that is usually the most plain and simple. There is no technical grammar structure or a certain writing pattern for you to follow. It is expected to be read and written in a usual conversational tone than will then translate into natural speech.
Fable: Fables are used when the intention is to provide a moral story, and they usually include animals as characters. They serve as the personifications of human characteristics and their nature.
Biography: In literature, Biographies tell the stories from another person’s point of view and it is not written by the subject himself. Its intention is to enlighten the audience by including different aspects of somebody’s life.
Whatever type of literature you are interested in creating, it should all depend on your target audience and the message you want to put across.