Literary genres are categories that organize all types of literary texts by their formal, structural and thematic similarities.

Literary genres are classified into three types:

• Lyrical genre : includes poetic texts of a sentimental nature revealing the poet’s emotions, for example, sonnets.
• Narrative genre (formerly called epic): narrates a story with characters, situated in a time and space, for example, a novel.
• Dramatic genre : brings together theatrical texts to be staged, for example, a comedy.

Lyrical Genre

The lyrical genre is a literary genre written in verses that focuses on showing the emotions, sensations, feelings and personal impressions of the poet.

The lyrical texts are marked by subjectivity, where the poet expresses his opinion, so they are written in the first person (I).

The lyrical genre receives this name, as it refers to the musical instrument, the lyre, which accompanied the declamation of poetry in antiquity.

Some subgenres of lyrical texts are:

• Sonnet – poem in a fixed form, consisting of fourteen verses (two quatrains and two tercets).
• Poetry – poetic text formed by verses that are grouped into stanzas.
• Ode – poem of exaltation composed to be recited or sung.
• Haiku – fixed-form poem of Japanese origin, consisting of three verses.
• Hymn – poem that honors someone or worships something.
• Satire – poem that ridicules people or customs.

Example of lyrical text

The Sonnet of Fidelity, by Vinicius de Moraes, is a fixed form poem composed of fourteen verses (two quartets and two tercets). In it, the author exposes his feelings related to love and fidelity.

Of everything, to my love I will be attentive Before, and with such zeal, and always, and so much That even in the face of His greatest charm, my thought is more enchanted.

I want to live it in every vain moment And in praise I will spread my song And laugh my laughter and shed my tears To your grief or your contentment.

And so, when you look for me later Who knows death, the anguish of those who live Who knows loneliness, the end of those who love

I can tell myself about the love (that I had): Let it not be immortal, since it is flame But let it be infinite while it lasts.

Narrative Genre

The narrative genre is a modern literary genre in prose, which aims to narrate a story. For a text to be considered narrative, it must contain these elements:

• Plot – story that tells a succession of events.
• Narrator – the one who narrates the story.
• Characters – people who are present in the story.
• Time – the period in which the story takes place.
• Space – where the story takes place.

In its origin, the narrative genre was called “ epic genre ”, as it included historical-literary narratives of great events, called epics.

Some subgenres of narrative texts are:

• Epic – long narrative about the great facts of a hero or a people.
• Romance – extensive narrative written in prose that reveals actions of characters within a story.
• Novel – written in prose, it is a long narrative, but shorter and more dynamic than the novel.
• Short story – written in prose, it is a more objective and short narrative than the soap opera and the novel.
• Chronicle – brief narrative that focuses on everyday events.
• Fable – fantasy narrative that seeks to teach about something.

Example of narrative text

The Frog and the Ox, Aesop’s fable, brings the following teaching: ” whoever tries to look bigger than he is will burst”.

A frog was in the meadow looking at an ox and felt such envy of his size that he began to inflate himself to get bigger. Then another frog arrived and asked if the bull was the bigger of the two. The first answered no – and made an effort to inflate more. Then she repeated the question: “Who’s bigger now?” The other frog replied: – The ox. The frog was furious and tried to get bigger by inflating it more and more until it burst.

Dramatic Genre

The dramatic genre is a theatrical literary genre that brings together written texts, in prose or verse. Dramatic texts are used to present to an audience (spectators).

A very important characteristic of theatrical texts is the presence of dialogues between the characters. They are generally divided into acts, when actions take place in the same space, and scenes, when there is a change of location and characters.

Some subgenres of dramatic texts are:

• Tragedy – tragic theatrical text with permanent tension and unhappy ending.
• Comedy – humorous theatrical text that satirizes various aspects of society.
• Tragicomedy – theatrical text that brings together tragic and comic aspects.
• Farce – short and comic theatrical text, formed by one act.
• Auto – theatrical text with a more religious and moralistic approach.

Dramatic genre text example

The excerpt from Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, points out the place where the dialogue between two characters takes place.

ACT ONE – SCENE I

Verona. A public square.

Enter Samson and Gregory of the House of Capulets, with swords and bucklers (Small, round shields.).

SAMSON: Well, Gregory, we won’t take insults! GREGORIO: No, because then they would take us for porters. SAMSON: I mean, if we get angry, we’ll draw the sword. GREGORY: Yes, but try, as long as you live, to pull your neck out of the noose of the gallows. SANSION: I’ll knock right away, when they come up with me. GREGORIO: But don’t think so fast that you’re forced to knock. SANSON: A dog of the family of the Montecchis makes me nervous.

Learn more about the origin and categories of the dramatic genre:

• Greek Theater
• Greek comedy
• Greek tragedy

How did literary genres emerge?

The classification of literary genres was proposed in classical antiquity by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) in his work Poetics. According to him:

• The lyrical genre represented the “sung word”, since, in the old days, literary texts were recited and accompanied by musical instruments.
• The epic genre meant the “narrated word”, as it portrayed the grandiose events of a hero in long poems called epics. Over time, this genre expanded and is currently called “narrative”.
• The dramatic genre that symbolized the “represented word” and brought together written texts for a theatrical play.