The Three Genres of Literature
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Lesson overview
Prose, drama and poetry — and how to tell them apart.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · WAEC WASSCE Paper 1 + Paper 2 Lens
Pacing
Objective speed on Paper 1 + structured step-by-step method marks on Paper 2 Theory/Practical.
How WAEC marks this
Examiners award method marks (M1) for stating the formula/definition and accuracy marks (A1) ONLY when SI units are written.
Watch out for
Writing bare numbers without working or omitting SI units loses up to 50% of Paper 2 marks even when the final value is right.
Lesson content
Overview — The Three Genres of Literature
Prose, drama and poetry — and how to tell them apart. This lesson is at the beginner level — by the end, you'll be able to recognise this question type, apply a reliable method, and avoid the traps that cost marks.
Key Concept
Literature-in-English is divided into three genres: PROSE (narrative fiction written in ordinary sentences and paragraphs, e.g. a novel), DRAMA (written to be performed, structured in dialogue and stage directions, e.g. a play), and POETRY (written in verse, using rhythm, sound and condensed language to create meaning).
Why It's Tested This Way
WAEC/JAMB open the syllabus with this classification because every later topic (plot, characterization, theme) is analysed differently depending on the genre — a 'character' in a play is built through dialogue and stage directions, while a 'character' in a poem may be built through voice and imagery alone.
Method
To identify a genre from an extract, check its FORM first: is it in paragraphs of narration (prose), lines of dialogue with stage directions in brackets (drama), or lines broken into verses with rhythm and sound patterns (poetry)?
Worked Example
Worked example: An extract written entirely in paragraphs describing a character's thoughts and actions in flowing narrative sentences is PROSE.
Second Worked Example
Second worked example: An extract laid out as 'JOHN: (angrily) Where have you been all this time?' with a bracketed stage direction and a colon after the speaker's name is DRAMA.
Common Traps
Common trap: assuming any text with dialogue in it must be drama — prose fiction (novels, short stories) also contains dialogue, but it's embedded within narration rather than laid out with speaker labels and stage directions.
Lesson Summary
Remember: (1) identify what is being asked, (2) apply the WAEC strategy, (3) check against the traps. Complete the 10-question quiz below to unlock the next lesson — you need at least 60% to pass.
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