Perspectives of different genre’s analysis
Legends, myths, fables, fairy tales are the earliest forms of literary works.Novel emerged as the most important form of prosefiction in the 18th century. The majority of traditional epics revolve around a hero, who has to perform a number of tasks of national or cosmic significance in a multiplicity of episodes. Classical epics have their roots in myth history and religion. Therefore reflecting a self-contained worldview of their particular periods and nationalities.
Romance established itself as an independent sub-genre in the Late Middleages and has a tendency towards a focused plot and unified point of view.
The roots of the short story lie in the antiquity of the Middle Ages. A crucial feature commonly identified with the short story is its impression of unity since it can be read in one sitting without interruption. Due to restrictions of length the plot of the short story has to be highly selective, its temporal dimension usually focuses on one central moment of action.
Novella or novelette hold an intermediary position between novel and short story. Its length and elements cannot be strictly indentified with either of the two subgenres. The prospective of fiction always include:
1) plot or what happens
2) characters or who acts
3) narrative perspective, who sees what
4) setting, where and when the events take place
The genre of poetry is often subdivided into two main categories:
1) Narrative poetry
2) Lyric poetry
Narrative poetry tells stories with clearly developed and structured plots (a ballad). Lyric poetry is mainly concerned with one event, impression, idea.
Poetic language can be analyzed on lexical-thematic, visual, rhythmic, acoustic levels, e.g.
1. its diction (word choice), rhetorical figures and theme
2. appearance, forms, alignment
3. rhythms, rhyme, meter, assonance, alliteration
Drama combines verbal and a number of non-verbal means (scenery, stage, props, lighting, gestures, facial expression). Because of the elements of performance drama generally transcends the textual dimension. The written word serves as basis of drama. It is intended to be transformed into a performance before an audience.
Text transformation and performance level. The first level is text level: dialogues, monologues, plot, setting, themes.
Transformation (analyze the direction, stage scenery, props). Performance (actors, their methods).
