Genres:
* Fiction: Novels, short stories, novellas, etc.
* Non-fiction: Essays, biographies, memoirs, histories, etc.
* Poetry: Sonnets, epics, limericks, etc.
* Drama: Plays, screenplays, etc.
What makes something a "work of literature"?
There's no single, definitive answer to this, as it often depends on individual interpretation and cultural context. However, some common characteristics include:
* Artistic merit: The piece demonstrates skillful use of language, form, and structure.
* Meaning and depth: The work explores complex themes, ideas, and human experiences.
* Originality and innovation: The piece offers something new or unique to the literary landscape.
* Cultural significance: The work reflects or challenges the values, beliefs, and experiences of its time and place.
* Enduring appeal: The work continues to resonate with readers across generations and cultures.
Examples of works of literature:
* Novels: *Pride and Prejudice* (Jane Austen), *The Great Gatsby* (F. Scott Fitzgerald), *One Hundred Years of Solitude* (Gabriel García Márquez)
* Poetry: *The Odyssey* (Homer), *The Waste Land* (T.S. Eliot), *The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock* (T.S. Eliot)
* Plays: *Hamlet* (William Shakespeare), *Waiting for Godot* (Samuel Beckett), *A Streetcar Named Desire* (Tennessee Williams)
* Non-fiction: *The Second Sex* (Simone de Beauvoir), *Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind* (Yuval Noah Harari), *The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks* (Rebecca Skloot)
Ultimately, what makes a work of literature is a matter of individual judgment and the ongoing conversation within the literary world.