GENRE

   = genus (lat)

   = sort, type of a text (e.g. poem, thriller, tragedy...)

   

   How fixed are genres?

   Should creative writing represent a good "generic text" or is it considered imitative and
   formulaic? -- differs from period to period and genre to genre

   

   - depends on a conventional agreement rather than a precise definition

   - allows prediction and expectation

   - reflect audience wishes but also creates them

   

   The concept of genre contributes to the ways texts are produced, received and circulated in
   society, but its contribution is not fixed.

   

   Classification on the basis of formal arrangement

   - poetry, drama, fiction  (see Aristotle)

   On the basis of theme /subject matter

   (whodunnit, biography, science fiction ...)

   On the basis of technique of composition/ mode of address            (e.g. epistolary novel)

   On the basis attitude /treatment of the theme

               (elegy, satire ...)

   On the basis of function            (e.g. philosophical novel)

   On the basis of literary period (e.g. realistic novel)

   

   Deflated expectations: exploiting genre through colllage and pastiche (irony)

   

   Historical novel

   Utopian novel

   Fantastic novel

   Science fiction novel

   Detective novel

   Psychological novel

   Autobiographical novel

   Problem novel

   Biographical novel

   Epistolary novel

   Stream-of-consciousness novel

   Anti-novel

   Didactic novel

   Humorous novel

   Romantic novel

   Realistic novel

   Naturalistic novel

   Existential novel

   Pastoral novel

   Chivalric novel

   Gothic novel

   Pastoral novel

   Experimental novel

   Journalistic novel