Elements of Different Genres

I. Poetry
a. Imagery – is the name given to the elements in a poem that spark off
the senses. Despite "image" being a synonym for "picture", images
need not be only visual; any of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch,
taste, smell) can respond to what a poet writes.
b. Rhythm – Yes, rhythm can include rhyme. But there are other ways to
make a poem rhythmic without rhyme. Stringing words with similar
sounds together in a line works very well. (this is an example of
assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words)
c. Sound – The rhythm of a poem goes along with the general sound of
it as well as making it easier to remember. There are two sound
patterns to know here. One is soft and harmonious; this is called
euphony. The other sounds are much harsher and the sounds kind of
rattle off your tongue. This is cacophony.
i. In euphony, words are chosen for their soft consonant sounds
and melodious quality (euphonious letters/sounds: L, O, S, SH,
M, N, Y, W, U, PH, A)
ii. In cacophony, words are chosen for their hard sounds and
general obnoxiousness. (cacophonic letters/sounds: K, J, T, Q,
V, C, X, G, Z, CH)
d. Density – Density is what sets poetry apart from prose (normal
speech patterns/ the way fiction and nonfiction books are written)
Density is how much is said in how little of space. The ability to use
metaphors, not conform to traditional grammar styles, and incorporate
sounds and rhythms is unique to poetry.
e. Line – In poetry, the line is like one sentence. And since poetry
doesn’t conform to grammar rules, and no one is obliged to use a
period, the end of a line is like a period would be in pros. It creates a
natural pause, making a break in the flow.
 II. Prose
a. Plot- The sequence of incidents or events through which an author
constructs a story. *The plot is not merely the action itself, but the way
the author arranges the action toward a specific end (structure).
b. Characters - Characters are essential to a good story, and it is the
main characters that have the greatest effect on the plot or are the
most affected by the events of the story. The different types of
characters include protagonists, antagonists, dynamic, static, round,
flat, and stock.
c. Theme - The theme of a piece of fiction is its controlling idea or its
central insight. It is the unifying generalization about life stated or
implied by the story. While theme is central to a story, it is not the
whole purpose. The function of a literary writer is not to state a theme
by to show and describe it.
d. Setting - The setting of a story is its overall context- where, when and
in what circumstances the action occurs.
e. Point of View - Point of View is simply who is telling the story. *To
determine POV ask, “who is telling the story”, and “how much do they
know?”
III. Drama
a. Theme - The theme of a play refers to its central idea. It can either be
clearly stated through dialog or action or can be inferred after watching
the entire performance.
b. Plot - The order of events occurring in a play make its plot. Essentially,
the plot is the story that the play narrates. The entertainment value of a
play depends largely on the sequence of events in the story.
c. Characters - The characters that form a part of the story are
interwoven with the plot of the drama. Each character in a play has a
personality of its own and a set of principles and beliefs. Actors in the
play have the responsibility of bringing the characters to life.
d. Dialog - The story of a play is taken forward by means of dialogs. The
story is narrated to the audiences through the interaction between the
play's characters, which is in the form of dialogs. The contents of the
 dialogs and the quality of their delivery have a major role to play in the
impact that the play has on the audiences.
e. Setting - The time and place where a story is set is one of its
important parts. The era or time in which the incidents in the play take
place, influence the characters in their appearance and personalities.
The time setting may affect the central theme of the play, the issues
raised (if any), the conflict, and the interactions between the
characters.
f. Performance - It is another important element of drama, as the impact
that a story has on the audiences is largely affected by the
performances of the actors. When a written play is transformed into a
stage performance, the actors cast for different roles, the way they
portray the characters assigned to them, and the way their
performances are directed are some important factors that determine
the play's impact.
IV. Nonfiction
a. Informative nonfiction written to provide factual information main
purpose – to inform includes science and history texts, encyclopedias,
pamphlets, brochures, telephone books, maps, atlases, and most of
the articles in magazines and newspapers.
b. Literary nonfiction written to be read and experienced in much the
same way you experience fiction. Different from fiction in that real
people take the place of fictional characters, and the settings and plots
are not imaginary.