Written literature is classified into three major genres:

1. Prose
2. Drama (Play)
3. Poetry

Each genre has distinct characteristics that set it apart from the others.

Prose is written in ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech, without the formal patterns of verse. It is presented in sentences and paragraphs.

Types of Prose

Prose is divided into two main categories:

Key Characteristics of Prose

• Uses ordinary language and grammatical structure
• Organised in paragraphs and chapters
• Can be either factual or imagined
• Includes various sub-genres with different purposes

Example from the textbook: Novels like The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah and Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe are examples of fiction prose.

Drama (also called a play) is a form of literature intended to be performed on stage before an audience. While drama refers to the performance, the written script is called a play.

Forms of Drama

Key Characteristics of Drama

• Written to be performed
• Uses dialogue between characters
• Includes stage directions
• Characters speak and act out the story

Example from the textbook: Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot is an example of an absurd play.

Poetry is a form of literary expression organised in verse, typically with regular or free meter and rhyme. It uses condensed, melodic language.

Types of Poetry

Key Characteristics of Poetry

• Organised in lines and stanzas
• Uses figurative language and imagery
• Often has regular rhythm and rhyme (traditional poetry)
• May use free verse (modern poetry)
• Expresses emotions and feelings

Example from the textbook: "The Lamentation of the Old Pensioner" by William Butler Yeats and "A Hymn to the Evening" by Phillis Wheatley are examples of poetry.

Follow these steps to correctly classify written literature:

1. Examine the form — Is it written in verse (poetry), dialogue (drama), or ordinary paragraphs (prose)?

2. Consider the structure — Poetry uses lines and stanzas; drama uses acts and scenes; prose uses chapters and paragraphs.

3. Identify the purpose — Is the text meant to be performed (drama), read silently (prose), or recited (poetry)?

4. Look at the language — Poetry uses condensed, figurative language; prose uses straightforward language; drama uses dialogue.

5. Check the content — Is it factual (non-fiction prose) or imagined (fiction)?

Quick Reference Chart

In Tanzania, understanding literary genres helps you in everyday communication. For example, when you read a news article in a Tanzanian newspaper like Mwananchi or The Citizen, you can identify it as non-fiction prose. Similarly, when watching a drama on TV such as a TFA (Tanzania Film Board) production or a school drama performance, you can classify it as drama. This skill also helps you choose the right style when writing your own texts — whether composing a friendly letter to your mwalimu, writing an essay for examination, or preparing a speech for a school event.