Final answer:
A genre is a category of literary composition with unique style and characteristics. Major genres include creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry, each with their own sub-genres and conventions. The correct option for the question is 'b) a category of literature'.
Step-by-step explanation:
A genre is essentially a category of literature, art, or music characterized by a specific style, form, or content. In literature, four major genres include creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry. Each genre carries its distinct characteristics with sub-genres that delve deeper into specific forms like short stories, memoirs, and lyric poetry. Genres help in categorizing literature based on consistent stylistic criteria and allow readers to know what to expect from a composition. Commonly discussed genres also include personal narratives, position arguments, and script writing, and they can broadly encompass stories, novels, and text that align with a specific theme or form.
Genres are not rigid boxes but rather suggest conventions and tools that authors use to deliver their message effectively, much like how an artist uses various techniques and mediums to create artwork. Therefore, terms like literary devices, such as metaphors and imagery, are often essential in shaping the work within a genre. However, some works blend or break traditional genre conventions, creating a dynamic and ever-evolving literary landscape.
According to the options provided, the correct answer would be 'b) a category of literature'.