A
A ______ is a 14-line lyric poem, traditionally written in iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme, originating in Italy and famously developed by Petrarch and Shakespeare to explore themes like love, beauty, and mortality, often featuring a "volta" or turn in thought.
Sonnet
A short poem or prose work that depicts an idealized, peaceful, and charming rural or pastoral scene, often celebrating a simple, tranquil life in harmony with nature.
Idyll
A serious type of story from ancient Greece where a noble hero falls from success to ruin because of a flaw or fate, causing suffering and death and leaving the audience emotionally cleansed while reflecting on human struggle, fate, and morality.
Tragedy
______ in literature is a broad genre of storytelling intended primarily to amuse and entertain the audience through humor, wit, and often a satirical view of human folly.
Comedy
A dramatic genre that uses exaggerated emotions, sensational stories, and clear good-vs-evil characters to strongly move the audience, focusing more on emotional impact than realistic character depth.
Melodrama
______ is a short piece of writing that focuses on a particular topic or argument. They are used to express ideas, explain a point, or discuss a topic in a structured and organized way.
Essay
________ is a long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero. It features a hero who represents the values of a particular society, and who goes on an epic journey or quest.
Epic
A _______ is a type of song that tells a story and often has a repeated chorus or refrain. They typically have a slow, rhythmic structure and use simple and emotional language.
Ballad
A _______ is a poetic composition, often with verses, a refrain (chorus), and rhythm, specifically crafted to be set to music and performed, expressing emotions, telling stories, or communicating ideas in a musically expressive way.
Song
A formal, serious, and often ceremonial lyric poem that expresses deep emotion, praise, or celebration for a specific person, place, object, or idea, originating from ancient Greece where it was sung to music.
Ode
A ______ is a work of long prose fiction, which is usually centered around characters, events and settings. Novels usually have multiple chapters, with a larger plot and focus on character development.
Novel
A ________ is a work of fiction that is usually shorter in length than a novel. They often have less developed characters and settings than longer works, but can still explore complex themes.
Short Story
A ________ is a work of narrative fiction, longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. Generally, novellas are between 20,000 and 40,000 words in length.
Novella
A ______ is a piece of information about a current event or situation. It may be reported in a variety of media, including newspapers, television, radio, and the Internet.
News
An/a ________ is a brief, often amusing story about a real incident or person. They are usually related as a way to support an argument or point in a speech or essay.
Anecdote