21ST CENTURY LITERARY

LESSON GENRES AND THEIR

2 ELEMENTS, STRUCTURES
AND TRADITIONS

Learning Competency: Compare and contrast the various 21st century literary genres
and their elements, structures, and traditions from across the globe, EN12LitIId-25 (2
hours).

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT

At the end of this lesson, the learners are expected to:

1. define what literary genre is;
2. identify various 21st century literary genres common across the globe; and
3. compare and contrast the 21st century literature genres and their
elements, structures and traditions from across the globe.

WHAT I KNOW

INSTRUCTIONS: Read and answer the following statements. Write your answer in your
notebook.
1. What is a genre?
a. a type of recipe c. a gendered story
b. a category of literature d. a rhyming poem

2. Which of the following is not a main genre of literature?

a. poetry b. drama c. myth d. prose

3. Which of the following does not have genres?

a. poetry b. sonnets c. hairstyles d. movies

4. How is style related to genre?

a. Genres are not related to styles c. A style is a type of genre
b. A genre is a type of style d. Genres are characterized by different
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 styles

*generated from https://literaryterms.net/genre-quiz/

WHAT’S IN

List down your top 3 favorite movies or books and decide on what genre they
belong. You can write down your responses in your notebook.

1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________

WHAT IS IT

To move on with this lesson, let us unlock important terms:

• 21st century literature - refers to all literary works written and published at the
latter part of the 21st century (from 2001 onwards). These works are often
characterized as gender sensitive, technologically alluding, culturally pluralistic,
operates on the extreme reality or extreme fiction, and questions conventions
and supposedly absolute norms. - SHS Curriculum Guide, 21st Century
Literature of the Philippines and the World

• literary genre - is a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined

by literary technique, tone, content, or even (as in the case of fiction) length. The
distinctions between genres and categories are flexible and loosely defined, often
with subgroups.

The most general genres in literature are (in loose chronological order)
epic, tragedy, comedy, and creative nonfiction. They can all be in the form of
prose or poetry. Additionally, a genre such as satire, allegory or pastoral might
appear in any of the above, not only as a sub-genre, but as a mixture of genres.
Finally, they are defined by the general cultural movement of the historical
period in which they were composed. Genre should not be confused with age
categories, by which literature may be classified as either adult, youngadult, or
children's. They also must not be confused with format, such as graphic novel or
picture book. -SHS Curriculum Guide, 21st Century Literature of the Philippines
and the World

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 Genre, in broad terms, refers to any works that share certain
characteristics. If enough characteristics are in common, then the pieces are said
to be in the same genre.

21st Century Literary Genres, Traditions and Forms from Different Cultures
• Contemporary literature

- Reflects current trends in life and culture and because these things
change often, contemporary literature changes often as well.
- Reflects author's perspective and can be cynical.
- Questions facts, historical perspectives and presents 2 contradictory
arguments side by side
Contemporary literature began in the 1940s or so. A few of its qualities:
- Reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story;
- Well-defined, realistic, highly developed characters in realistic, sometimes
harsh environments;
- Often the stories are character driven;
- The literature is ironic and reflects current political, social and personal
issues;
- May reflect a personal cynicism, disillusionment and frustration;
- Facts are questioned as are historical perspectives;
- Often presents two contradictory arguments;
- The literature may reflect a growing skepticism in the existence of God as
well as distrust or lack of faith in traditional institutions

• The 2000s

- Saw a steep increase in the acceptability of literature of all types, inspired by

the coming of age of millions of people who enjoyed the work of writers of
speculative fiction
Speculative fiction - an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical
fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird fiction,
supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction,
apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature
as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts. - SHS Curriculum Guide,
21st Century Literature of the Philippines and the World

• Chinese literature

- Affected by the impact of the Internet, which has become an important

medium for the dissemination of politically sensitive works.
- Resurgence of science fantasy not seen since the late Qing dynasty
- No epics of either folk or literary variety and hardly any narrative or
descriptive poems that are long by the standards of the world literature
Sinophone literature- Redefines Chinese literature as a field determined by
language rather than purely by geography
Modern Chinese poetry- Depends on end rhyme and tonal metre for its
cadence and characterized by its compactness and brevity

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• Japanese literature

- Marked by a strong and intentional break with tradition and the

nationcentered and group orientation values.
- This break included:
A strong reaction against established religious, political, and social
views.
- Feminism, individualism, internationalism, liberalism, and proletarian
emerged during this period - Concerned with the subconscious.
- New literary forms and style like:
A novel in 1st POV is written like an autobiographical confessional
type of narration

• Indian Literature

- Simultaneous co-existence of the postcolonial state apparatuses with an

ideology which was: Liberal and Humanist, seen in the areas of public life
like the academic scene
Realism- Outcome of the creation of a reading public which was trying to
construct an identity in the context of the anti-colonial struggles and
nationbuilding.
This combined liberal-reformist ideology with an affirmation of an 'Indian'
cultural specificity.
- This concept however was middle-class and Hindu
The realist novel- Its focus on growth and individual freedom is transformed in
the Indian context with the economic conditions of uneven capitalism
Basis for Realism- The economic: seen the existence of capitalist exploitation
-Political; and
-Social conditions

• African literature

- Distinct influence from African current events and recent history.

- Themes:
-Post imperialism
-Cultural upheaval
-Violence
- These are topics present in previous centuries which are still very much
relevant in modern day African nations.

African poetry- This a form of protest.

- Theorists describe it as having a post colonial viewpoint, referring to: The
period after European nations tried to govern African nations
Africa's modern history- It is Influenced by neocolonialism, cultural change, and
clashes between political parties and religious ideologies

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 Modern African writer- Look away from the internal, individual struggle and
instead shift the focus to the: Struggles of African nations still trying to develop
after gaining independence from European imperialism
-economic struggles of the people
-divisions of classes
-and various other conflicts that modern day African nations face

• American literature

- Concerned with relationships and connections between people and

emotion-provoking storytelling is common.
The value of media in culture is changing the way this movement is
perceived
- Diversity and acceptance
- Address universal themes seen through the eyes of their culture
juxtaposition of the ordinary with magical elements
- Fantastic elements are interwoven into realistic fiction

• English Literature

- As the 21st century got underway, history remained the outstanding

concern of English literature. Although contemporary issues such as global
warming and international conflicts (especially the Second Persian Gulf
War and its aftermath) received attention, writers were still more disposed
to look back.
- Although they had entered into a new millennium, writers seemed to find
greater imaginative stimulus in the past than in the present and the future.

Most Notable Literary Genres in the 21st Century

a. Poetry - It is a type of literature that conveys a thought, describes a scene or

tells a story in a concentrated, lyrical arrangement of words. Poems can be
structured, with rhyming lines and meter, the rhythm and emphasis of a line
based on syllabic beats.

Poems can also be freeform, which follows no formal structure. It is

further subdivided into different genres, such an epic poem, narrative, romantic,
dramatic, and lyric. Dramatic poetry includes melodrama, tragedy, and comedy,
while other poems includes ode, sonnet, elegy, ballad, song, and epic.

Poetry today is usually written down but is still sometimes performed.

i. Hyperpoetry – It is a form of digital poetry that uses links using hypertext

mark-up. It is a very visual form, and is related to hypertext fiction and
visual arts. The links mean that a hypertext poem has no set order, the
poem moving or being generated in response to the links that the
reader/user chooses. It can either involve set words, phrases, lines, etc.
that are presented in variable order but sit on the page much as traditional

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 poetry does, or it can contain parts of the poem that move and /or mutate.
It is usually found online, though CD-ROM and diskette versions exist. The
earliest examples date to no later than the mid 1980s.

ii. Spoken word poetry – It can be described as poetry that is written to be

performed. Spoken word utilizes concrete language, word play, and
rhythm to tell stories. Through the use of vivid imagery, the listener is able
to “feel” the words as they are being spoken. Many literary devices, like
metaphor, can be used to help the audience visualize the story. And
although the stories may be humorous, serious, sad, or painful, they
remain true to the emotion of the speaker. Some pieces may lack a
definite beginning, middle, or end, but it may be in that absence that the audience finds
something to relate to.

The beautiful thing about spoken word is that a person is allowed to

give his or her perspective on a certain topic without fear of debate. It is an
open display of the soul. With this medium, an individual is able to express
feelings of anger and grief about current events, and the audience is given
a front row seat to the inner workings of the artist’s mind. Spoken word
pieces can involve any life experience from losing a first tooth to losing
one’s virginity to losing one’s child. The range is endless.

b. Drama- It is the genre of literature with stories composed of verse or prose which
is meant to be dramatically or theatrically performed. Its emotions and conflicts
are expressed through dialogue and movements or action.

c. Blog - A weblog: a website containing short articles called posts that are
changed regularly. Some blogs are written by one person containing their own
opinions, interests and experiences, while others are written by many different
people.

d. Creative nonfiction – it is also known as literary nonfiction or narrative

nonfiction. It is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to
create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other
nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in
accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service to its craft. As a genre,
creative nonfiction is still relatively young, and is only beginning to be scrutinized
with the same critical analysis given to fiction and poetry.

e. Fiction- It is a literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact,

though it may be based on a true story or situation.

i. Short story – It is a brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a

novel and that usually deals with only a few characters. The short story is
usually concerned with a single effect conveyed in only one or a few
significant episodes or scenes. The form encourages economy of setting,
concise narrative, and the omission of a complex plot; character is
disclosed in action and dramatic encounter but is seldom fully developed.
Despite its relatively limited scope, though, a short story is often judged by
its ability to provide a “complete” or satisfying treatment of its characters
and subject.

ii. Chick-lit – It is a genre which addresses issues of modern womanhood,

often humorously and light-heartedly. The genre became popular in the

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 late 1990s, with chick-lit titles topping best seller lists and the creation of
imprints devoted entirely to chick-lit. Although it sometimes includes
romantic elements, chick-lit is generally not considered a direct
subcategory of the romance novel genre, because the heroine's
relationship with her family or friends is often just as important as her
romantic relationships.
iii. Illustrated novel – It is a story through text and illustrated novels.

iv. Digi-fiction – It is a triple media literature. It combines three media:

book, movie/video and internet website.

v. Graphic novels – These are narratives in comic book formats.

vi. Manga – This is a Japanese word for comics

Example: Naruto, Bleach, One Piece

vii. Doodle Fiction – It is a literary presentation where the author

incorporates doodle writing and drawings, and handwritten graphics in
place of traditional font.
Example: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

viii. Text-Talk Novels- These are stories that are told almost completely in
dialogue simulating social network exchanges.

ix. Flash fiction – This is a style of fictional literature of extreme brevity.

x. Six-word flash fiction – It is a flash fiction done in six words only.

xi. Speculative fiction – It is an umbrella term encompassing the more

fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird
fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian
fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in
literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts.

a. Science fiction – It is a genre dealing with imaginative

concepts such as futuristic science and technology, space
travel, time travel, saster than light travel, parallel universe and
extraterrestrial life.
Ex. The Hunger Games

b. Fantasy – It is a genre that concentrates on imaginary elements

(the fantastic). This can mean magic, the supernatural, alternate
worlds, superheroes, monsters, fairies, magical creatures,
mythological heroes—essentially, anything that an author can
imagine outside of reality.
f. Horror – It is a genre whose purpose is to create feelings of fear, dread,
repulsion, and terror in the audience—in other words, it develops an atmosphere
of horror

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 ACTIVITY

Suggested activities for you to explore:

Read the online article entitled “Literature in the 21st Century” by Ivo Oliveira and
Mithun Selvaratnam. https://www.fairobserver.com/culture/literature-21st-
century/

1. Write a short paragraph about your reaction to the article.