Distinctive feature of each of the genres of literature
Distinguishing Poetry, Prose, and Drama
Subject: Literature-in-English
Theme: Introduction to Literature-in-English
Topic: Distinctive feature of each of the genres of literature
Sub Topic:
Date: dd/mm/yyyy
Class: S.S 1
Average Age: 14 years and above
Duration: 35 Minutes
No of Learners: 40
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson learners should be able to:1. Define Genre
Genre is the organization of literature into categories based on the type of writing the piece exemplifies through its content, form, or style.2. Explain the function of genre
Genre is important in order to be able to organize writings based on their form, content, and style. For example, this allows readers to discern whether or not the events being written about in a piece are factual or imaginative. Genre also distinguishes the purpose of the piece and the way in which it is to be delivered. In other words, plays are meant to be performed and speeches are meant to be delivered orally whereas novels and memoirs are meant to be read.3. Define genre in literature
Genre is the classification and organization of literary works into the following categories:poetry, drama, prose. The works are divided based on their form, content, and style. While there are subcategories to each of these genres, these are the main categories in which literature is divided.
These three genres/forms represent the foundational structure of literary expression, offering diverse avenues for storytelling, creativity, and artistic communication.
4. List and Explain TYPES OF LITERARY GENRES
i. POETRY:
Poetry is a major literary genre that can take many forms. Some common characteristics that poetry shares are that it is written in lines that have meter and rhythm. These lines are put together to form stanza in contrast to other writings that utilize sentences that are divided into paragraphs. Poetry often relies heavily on figurative language such as metaphors and similes in order to convey meanings and create images for the reader.E.g "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou.
ii. DRAMA:
This literary genre is often also referred to as a play and is performed in front of an audience. Dramas are written through dialogue and include stage directions for the actors to follow.E.g “Romeo & Juliet” by William Shakespeare
iii. PROSE:
Prose is a type of writing that is written through the use of sentences. These sentences are combined to form paragraphs. This type of writing is broad and includes both fiction and non-fiction.E.g “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
5. Explain The Difference Between The Genres of Literature (Prose, Poetry, and Drama)
The primary distinction between the genres of prose, poetry, and drama lies in their structure and purpose. Novels are prose, written in paragraphs, and provide detailed storytelling through narration and dialogue. Poetry uses lines and stanzas instead of sentences and paragraphs, allowing poets to manipulate punctuation and grammar to convey their messages more emotively. Drama, written to be performed, can be either prose or poetry, and includes stage directions and dialogue to drive the plot and characterize through action.6. Explain the difference between prose and poetry
The main difference between prose and poetry is how the words are used. In prose we form words into sentences and paragraphs. In poetry we form words into lines and stanzas. Many of the rules of punctuation and grammar apply to poetry, but the poet can choose to change them as he or she wishes. Here is an example from Edward Estlin Cummings (American poet and painter)."somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which I cannot touch because they are too near"
the poet uses words differently than typical sentences. He does not capitalize, and does not even put spaces between the words (“travelled,gladly”). By doing this, he reinforces the tone and message of his poem, about the facts of life.
Poetry speaks directly to emotions. It seeks to eliminate as many barriers as possible between the poem and the reader.
7. Explain the difference between drama and novels
The difference between drama and novels is the purpose and the structure. Drama is written to be performed. It can consist of prose or be more like poetry, such as Shakespeare. It is composed of stage directions, speaker tags, and lines. Here is an example from the play The Diary of Anne Frank.Miep. Are you all right, Mr. Frank?
Mr. Frank (quickly controlling himself ). Yes, Miep, yes.
Miep. Everyone in the office has gone home. . . . It’s after six. (Then, pleading) Don’t stay up here, Mr. Frank. What’s the use of torturing yourself like this? (Act 1, Scene 1)
A play is meant to be performed, and not just read. The stage directions tell the actors what to do, but also describe the action of the play and how the lines will be delivered.
A novel, on the other hand, is a story written in paragraphs. It includes the narration, as well as dialogue. Here is an example from To Kill a Mockingbird.
"Teach me?" I said in surprise. "He hasn't taught me anything, Miss Caroline. Atticus ain't got time to teach me anything," I added, when Miss Caroline smiled and shook her head. "Why, he's so tired at night he just sits in the livingroom and reads." (ch 2)
8. ask WH-questions to Get a Deeper Understanding of the Difference genres of literature:
i. Prose
What is the author’s purpose?Who is the audience?
What are the main ideas?
How does the structure help to emphasize the purpose?
What literary devices are used and why?
How does the author’s style contribute to the meaning of the text?
ii. Drama
How does the stagecraft contribute to the meaning of the play?What do the costumes and makeup tell us about the characters?
How does the lighting help to create mood and atmosphere?
What do the sound effects and music add to the play?
iii. Poetry
What is the speaker’s tone?What is the poem's mood?
What are the main themes of the poem?
How does the poet use literary devices to create meaning?
What is the poem’s form, and how does it contribute to the meaning?
Rationale:
One important medium adopted by most writers to make literature a true imitation of life is in the use of characters/casts/dramatic personae. In identifying characters in a literary piece; the reader must take into cognizance what a character says, what other characters in and around him say about him, his physiological makeup, what drives and motivates him and finally the ironies and contrast associated with his action and inaction which invariably affect the growth and changes seen in him as the literary piece progresses to its climax. The socio-political context of work of arts must also be identified so as to have a good understanding of the work, as well as the historical background of the work of the author should be taken into consideration for a better appreciation.Prerequisite/ Previous knowledge:
Storyings, songs, history etc.Learning Resources:
Flash cards, an audio video youtube examples, Available useful objects.Reference Materials:
J.O.J. Nwachukwu et al: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English 2021-2025Tony Duru: Standard Literature-in-English
Internet.
Lesson Development:
STAGE |
TEACHER'S ACTIVITY |
LEARNER'S ACTIVITY |
LEARNING POINTS |
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| STEP 1: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE full class session (3 mins) |
The teacher Introduces the lesson by asking questions based on previous knowledge; i. State the Functions of Literature. ii. The Rudiments of Literary Appreciation iii. Approaches to Literary Appreciation iv. Concrete Issues in Literary Appreciation |
The students respond to the questions based on previous knowledge. (i) The functions of literature are predominantly to entertain, educate and inform. (ii) A true imitation of life is in the use of characters/casts/dramatic personae. What a character says, what other characters in and around him say about him, his physiological makeup, what drives and motivates him and finally the ironies and contrast associated with his action and inaction which invariably affect the growth and changes seen in him as the literary piece progresses to its climax. The socio-political context of work of arts. A good understanding of the work. the historical background of the work of the author. (iii) (a) The context of the text. (b) The structure of the text. (c) The poetic devices employed in the text. (d) The themes of the text (iv) 1. The plot - the storyline, which must be very detailed. 2. The theme - the central issues raised in any work of art. 3. The style - style of any writing is the technical devices and the way the language is structured. A style is the manner the writing is done which can be classical, down to earth, simple or difficult. 4. The mood - the feeling of the writer when writing. This must be fully appreciated by the reader in other to understand the plot and characterization. 5. The diction - the effective use of language to carry the theme, plot and mood of the writer. 6. Literary devices used- which must be appropriate so as not to confuse the reader. It must give the reader the opportunity to understand the work of art. |
Reversing previous lesson |
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| STEP 2: INTRODUCTION full class session (3 mins) Identification of prior ideas. |
The teacher review/introduce what they are going to study today; Definition of Genre; function of genre; ddefinition of genre in literature; list types of literary genre and Difference Between The Genres of Literature (Prose, Poetry, and Drama) | The students listen attentively to the teacher. Thereafter, the students contribute by describing instances they have to be involved in imitation of life occurrences on stage. |
Introducing the topic for discussion. |
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| STEP 3: DEVELOPMENT Group Work (2 mins) |
The teacher guides the learners to form four groups and asks them to choose their leaders and secretaries. | Learners choose their group leaders and secretaries. | Inculcating leadership skills, competitive spirit, cooperation, teamwork and a sense of responsibility among learners. |
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| STEP 4: EXPLORATION 3 mins Mode: Individual |
The teacher presents to the class the instructional resources and leads the students
to air their views on them. Thereafter, the teacher asks the students to 1. Define genre and explain the function of genre. 2. Define genre in literature. |
The students expected respond. 1. Genre is the organization of literature into categories based on the type of writing the piece exemplifies through its content, form, or style. Genre is important in order to be able to organize writings based on their form, content, and style. For example, this allows readers to discern whether or not the events being written about in a piece are factual or imaginative. 2. Define genre in literature is the classification and organization of literary works into the following categories: poetry, drama, prose. The works are divided based on their form, content, and style. While there are subcategories to each of these genres, these are the main categories in which literature is divided. |
Definition of genre. Definition of genre in literature. |
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| STEP 5: DISCUSSION 5 mins. Mode: Group |
The teacher guides the learners to list the Genres (Forms) of literature. | The students quickly list and explain the Genres of literature with examples. 1. POETRY: Among the different genre examples, poetry is considered by many to be the most intense literature genre. It allows a writer to express their deepest emotions and thoughts in a very personal way. It relies heavily on figurative language, rhythm, and imagery to relay its message to readers. Poetic writing uses beautiful language to express deep thoughts and feelings. Forms (Sub-Genres) of Poetry include: Songs and Ballads, Lyric, Epic, Dramatic, Narrative 2. DRAMA: Drama is often performed on stage in front of a live audience, but it can also be presented in other forms. It is usually written by a playwright, although it can be adapted from other sources, such as novels, short stories, poems, or even real-life events or it can be read silently by individuals. It contains dialogue, and actors impersonate the characters. Imaginary characters are frequently introduced to its narratives, allowing the playwright to explore complex human emotions and conflicts through both real-life and fantastical figures. Forms (Sub-Genres) of drama include: Tragedy, Comedy, History, Melodrama, Musical 3. PROSE: This form of literary expression has no formal metrical structure. It applies a natural flow of speech, and ordinary grammatical structure, rather than rhythmic structure. The prose is simple, straightforward language. It can be either fiction or nonfiction. The prose is typically divided into paragraphs, and it uses regular grammar. It can be either serious or funny. Forms (Sub-Genres) of prose include: Fiction (Novel, Novella, Short Story, Myths and Legends, Fables, Historical Fiction), Nonfiction (Autobiography, Biography, Essay, Diaries and Journals, Narrative Nonfiction) |
The Genres and sub-genres of literature |
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| The teacher guides the learners to list and explain the genres and subgenres of literature. | The studends explain the different types of literature being classified by genres and subgenres (i). Ballad: A ballad is a type of poem that tells a story. Ballads are often about love, loss, or murder. (ii). Lyric: A lyric is a type of poem that expresses the emotions or thoughts of the poet. (iii). Epic: An epic is a long, narrative poem that tells the story of a heroic figure. (iv). Dramatic: Dramatic poetry is a type of poetry that is meant to be performed. (v). Narrative: A narrative poem is a type of poem that tells a story. (vi). Tragedy: A tragedy is a type of drama that ends in disaster for the main character. (vii). Comedy: A comedy is a type of drama that ends happily or humorously. (viii). History: A history play is a type of drama that tells the story of a historical event. (ix). Melodrama: A melodrama is a type of drama that features exaggerated emotions and characters. (x). Musical: A musical is a type of drama that features songs and dance numbers. (xi). Novel: A novel is a type of fiction that tells a long, complex story. (xii). Novella: A novella is a type of fiction that tells a shorter, simpler story than a novel. (xiv). Short Story: A short story is a type of fiction that tells a brief, self-contained story. (xv). Myth and Legend: A myth is a type of story that explains the origins of a culture or natural phenomenon. A legend is a type of story that tells the story of a heroic figure. (xvi). Fable: A fable is a type of short story that features animals as the main characters. (xvii). Historical Fiction: Historical fiction is a type of fiction set in the past and features historical figures and events. (xviii). Autobiography: An autobiography is a type of nonfiction that tells the story of the author’s life. (xix). Biography A biography is a type of nonfiction that tells the story of someone else’s life. (xx). Essay: An essay is a type of nonfiction that expresses the author’s opinion on a topic. |
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| STEP 6: APPLICATION 4 mins Mode: Group |
The teacher guides learners to explain the difference between the genres of literature (Prose, Poetry, and Drama). HINTS: The primary distinction between the genres of prose, poetry, and drama lies in their structure and purpose. Novels are prose, written in paragraphs, and provide detailed storytelling through narration and dialogue. Poetry uses lines and stanzas instead of sentences and paragraphs, allowing poets to manipulate punctuation and grammar to convey their messages more emotively. Drama, written to be performed, can be either prose or poetry, and includes stage directions and dialogue to drive the plot and characterize through action. |
The students listen to the teacher | Difference Between The Genres of Literature (Prose, Poetry, and Drama) |
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| The teacher presents to the class the instructional resources and leads the students
to air their views on the difference between prose and poetry. From Edward Estlin Cummings (American poet and painter) "somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond any experience,your eyes have their silence: in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which I cannot touch because they are too near" |
The students expected respond Difference between prose and poetry is how the words are used. In prose we form words into sentences and paragraphs. In poetry we form words into lines and stanzas. Many of the rules of punctuation and grammar apply to poetry, but the poet can choose to change them as he or she wishes. |
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| The teacher presents to the class the instructional resources and leads the students
to air their views on the difference between drama and prose. From the play: The Diary of Anne Frank. Miep. Are you all right, Mr. Frank? Mr. Frank (quickly controlling himself ). Yes, Miep, yes. Miep. Everyone in the office has gone home. . . . It’s after six. (Then, pleading) Don’t stay up here, Mr. Frank. What’s the use of torturing yourself like this? (Act 1, Scene 1) From Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird. "Teach me?" I said in surprise. "He hasn't taught me anything, Miss Caroline. Atticus ain't got time to teach me anything," I added, when Miss Caroline smiled and shook her head. "Why, he's so tired at night he just sits in the livingroom and reads." (ch 2) |
The student expected respond. Drama contains dialogue, and actors impersonate the characters. Imaginary characters are frequently introduced to its narratives, allowing the playwright to explore complex human emotions and conflicts through both real-life and fantastical figures. Characters often encounter conflict, whether internal or external, as it serves as a driving force for character development and narrative tension. A prose(novel), on the other hand, is an example of literary text that is typically written in paragraphs. It includes the narration, as well as dialogue. |
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| STEP 7: EVALUATION Mode: Entire Class 5 mins |
The teacher asks the students the following questions: i. what is genre? ii. What is a literary genre? iii. What are the 3 genres/forms of literature and their differences? iv. Give 3 examples each of literature books under each genres |
The students expected answers (i) Genre is the organization and classification of writing. (ii) A literary genre is a category or type of literature characterized by common themes, styles, and narrative conventions. It serves as a way to classify and categorize literary works based on shared characteristics and elements. Common literary forms include fiction, non-fiction, and various subgenres within these categories, such as science fiction, romance or love stories, mystery, and historical fiction. This literary genre definition encapsulates the essence of storytelling, providing a framework for understanding and appreciating the various forms, themes, and styles that contribute to the rich tapestry of literature. (iii) The three main forms of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. Prose encompasses written or spoken language without a metrical structure and includes written forms like novels, short stories, essays, and articles. Poetry employs heightened and imaginative language, often with rhyme and meter, to evoke emotions and convey complex ideas. Drama is written for performance and includes plays, scripts, and screenplays intended for actors to act out on stage or screen. (iv) (a) Prose 1. A Washington Post Newspaper Report of Hurricane Ian 2. "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe 3. The historical fiction novel by Christopher Paul Curtis: Bud, Not Buddy. (b) Drama 1. "The Miracle Worker" by William Gibson 2. “Romeo & Juliet” by William Shakespeare 3. "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller (c) Poetry "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost "A Poison Tree" by William Blake "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou |
Asking the learners questions to assess the achievement of the set objectives. |
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| ASSIGNMENT | The teacher gives learners take home What are the TYPES OF FICTION AND NON-FICTION IN LITERATURE |
The learners copy the assignment | Better understanding of Distinctive feature of each of the genres of literature. |
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| CONCLUSION 2 mins |
The teachers wrap up from the learners' contribution on Rudiments of Literary Appreciation. | The students listen to the teacher and copy down notes. | Consolidating and harmonizing scientific concepts. |
