Craig White's Literature Courses Critical Sources list of genres

Any list of genres is incomplete and chaotic, as new genres constantly evolve from old ones. 

Literary or academic genres

epic, art epic, folk epic

saga

legend

drama

one-act play

the gothic

comedy, high comedy, low comedy

sentimental comedy

farce

tragicomedy

melodrama

lyric, art lyric

dramatic monologue

aubade

carol

song, chanson

haiku

limerick

paean, ode

sonnet

villanelle

narrative poem

tragedy

romance

medieval romance

satire, parody, burlesque, farce

fiction

novel

novelette

gothic novel

novel of manners

romantic novel

historical novel, historical romance

picaresque novel

psychological novel, stream of consciousness novel

problem novel, propaganda novel

sentimental novel

short story

detective story / novel

mystery story / novel

novel of manners

epistolary novel (novel told in letters)

sketch

local color writing

pastoral—pastoral drama, pastoral elegy, pastoral romance

fable

biography

autobiography

memoirs or memoir

comedy of manners

fantasy

elegy

essay

sermon

history

chronicle

military history

children’s literature

ABC’s

fairy tale(s)

primers

proverbs, aphorisms, wise sayings, epigrams, epitaphs

books of quotations

catechism

letters, epistles

diary

textbooks

film noir

parody

allegory

anthology

chapbook

giftbooks

erotic literature, “erotica” (careful with examples)

trilogy

science fiction

opera

myth

Popular culture genres

situation comedy

monster movies

spy novels / spy movies / James Bond novels / movies

Tarzan novels / movies

talk show(s)

monologues

pornography (careful with examples!)

self-help

thrillers

techno-thrillers (Tom Clancy, Hunt for Red October, etc.)

eulogy

hymn

western novel / movie

Harlequin or Silhouette Romance, Fabio novels, etc.

web page(s)

infomercial(s)

commercial(s)

professional wrestling shows, “Wrestle-Mania,” etc.

sporting event(s)

adventure novel / movie

“treasuries”

“spectacles”

sword-and-bosom movies, “cloak & sword romance” (Sp. Comediade capta y espada)

sandal-and-toga movies

religious epics (movies or books)

comic sketch (Saturday Night Live, Living Color, etc.)

police drama

courtroom drama

hospital drama

music video

talk radio

slasher movies

dinner theaters, bedroom farce

musical comedies

slapstick

column (i. e., newspaper column, e. g., Leon Hale, Molly Ivins)

soap opera or daytime drama

horror

techno-fantasy

dark fantasy

supernatural fiction

religious fiction

apocalyptic literature

instant books or "newsstand quickies" (pulp nonfiction or journalistic books published soon after a disaster)

speech genres

political speech, valediction, baccalaureate (graduation speech), prayers, benedictions, eulogies, farewells

emerging genres

graphic novels (long comic books)

computer games, video games

transmedia