ABSTRACT

Genre is a key means by which we categorize the many forms of literature and culture. But it is also much more than that: in talk and writing, in music and images, in film and television, genres actively generate and shape our knowledge of the world. Understanding genre as a dynamic process rather than a set of stable rules, this book explores:

  • the relation of simple to complex genres
  • the history of literary genre in theory
  • the generic organisation of implied meanings
  • the structuring of interpretation by genre
  • the uses of genre in teaching.

John Frow’s lucid exploration of this fascinating concept will be essential reading for students of literary and cultural studies.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|23 pages

Approaching genre 6

chapter 2|22 pages

Simple and complex genres

chapter 3|21 pages

Literary genre theory

chapter 4|28 pages

Implication and relevance

chapter 5|24 pages

Genre and interpretation

chapter 6|21 pages

System and history