By Form:
* Sonnet: 14 lines, iambic pentameter, specific rhyme scheme
* Haiku: 17 syllables (5-7-5), often about nature
* Limerick: 5 lines, AABBA rhyme scheme, humorous
* Free Verse: No set rhyme or meter, emphasis on imagery and rhythm
* Epic Poem: Long narrative poem about heroic deeds
* Ode: Lyrical poem expressing praise or strong emotion
* Ballad: Narrative poem, often with a folk origin and a refrain
* Villanelle: 19 lines, five tercets and a quatrain, two refrains and two rhymes
* Sestina: 39 lines, six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line envoi, all sharing the same six words at the end of lines, following a pattern
* Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used for dramatic works
By Content:
* Narrative: Tells a story
* Lyric: Expresses personal emotion
* Descriptive: Paints a picture with words
* Didactic: Aims to teach or instruct
* Humorous: Intended to be funny
* Patriotic: Celebrates one's country
* Elegiac: Expresses mourning or lament
Other Categories:
* Concrete Poetry: Uses visual elements to create meaning
* Found Poetry: Created from existing text, often non-poetic
* Spoken Word: Performed aloud, often with elements of music and drama
By Genre:
* Fiction: Imaginary stories
* Nonfiction: Based on facts
* Drama: Written for performance
* Poetry: Uses poetic devices like rhyme and meter
By Subgenre:
* Novel: Long work of fiction
* Short Story: Brief work of fiction
* Biography: Account of a real person's life
* Autobiography: Written by the person whose life it's about
* Memoir: Personal account of a specific time or event
* Essay: Short piece of writing on a specific topic
* Article: Piece of writing in a magazine or newspaper
* Script: Text for a play, movie, or TV show
* Journalism: News reporting
* History: Account of past events
* Science Fiction: Speculative fiction set in the future
* Fantasy: Fiction with magical elements
* Romance: Fiction focusing on love
* Thriller: Fiction that creates suspense and tension
* Mystery: Fiction focused on solving a crime
By Style:
* Formal: Uses complex sentence structure and academic vocabulary
* Informal: Uses simpler language and shorter sentences
* Descriptive: Focuses on vivid detail
* Narrative: Tells a story
* Expository: Explains or informs
* Persuasive: Attempts to convince the reader
* Reflective: Explores the writer's own thoughts and feelings
Other Categories:
* Creative Nonfiction: Blends factual information with literary techniques
* Hybrid Genres: Combine elements of different genres, like "magical realism"
* Digital Literature: Written for digital platforms and often incorporates interactive elements
This is just a starting point. There are many other types of poems and prose, and these categories can overlap. The best way to learn about different types is to read widely and explore different genres.