The umbrella term for major literary categories, including poetry, prose, and drama, is called what?

• A. Literary genres
• B. Poetry
• C. Prose
• D. Plays

Answer: (A)

Literary genres are broad groupings that describe the kind of literature by its form and style. Poetry, prose, and drama are the major ways literature can be written, and the umbrella label that covers these different kinds is literary genres. Poetry uses verse and rhythm, prose is written in ordinary sentence form, and drama is crafted to be performed on stage. Each of these is a distinct form, but they all fall under the larger category of genres that scholars use to compare and study different kinds of literature. The other options name one specific form rather than the overall category that includes all three.