lit devices: types of writing 1

allegory: a story in which people, things, and actions represent an idea or generalization about life; allegories often have a strong moral or lesson example: Allegory of the Cave by Plato

autobiography: an author's account or story of her or his own life example: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

biography: the story of a person's life written by another person example: Albert Einstein: a Biography

comedy: literature that deals with life in a humorous or satiric manner; in comedy, human errors or problems appear funny; comedies end on a happy note example: The Taming of the Shrew *

drama: the form of literature known as plays; but drama also refers to the type of serious play that is often concerned with the leading character's relationship to society example: 12 Angry Men

epic: a long narrative poem that tells of the deeds and adventures of a hero example: The Epic of Gilgamesh

epitaph: a short poem or verse written in memory of someone example: famous epitaphs

essay: a piece of prose that expresses an individual's point of view; usually, it is a series of closely related paragraphs that combine to make a complete piece of writing example: "Self-Reliance"

fantasy: a piece of prose that takes place in a nonexistent and unreal world, such as fairyland, or concerns incredible and unreal characters, or relies on scientific principles not yet discovered or contrary to present experience example: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

fiction: narrative writing drawn from the imagination rather than from history or fact example: Wicked

genre: refers to a category or type of literature based on its style, form, and content

gothic novel: a type of fiction that is usually characterized by gloomy castles, ghosts, and supernatural or sensational happenings -- creating a mysterious, chilling, and sometimes frightening story example: Frankenstein

legend: a narrative or tradition handed down from the past; distinguished from a myth by having more of a historical truth and perhaps less of the supernatural; legends often indicate the lore of a people and thus serve as at least partial expressions of a national spirit example: King Arthur

memoir: a form of autobiographical writing dealing usually with the recollections of one who has been a part of or has witnessed significant events; memoirs differ from autobiographies in that they are usually concerned with personalities and actions other than those of the writer, whereas autobiographies stress the inner and private lives of their subjects example: Out of Africa