Final answer:
The question addresses the categorization of a story into a literary genre, which is identified by themes, narrative structure, and form.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'What literary genre does the story belong to?' refers to the classification of a narrative based on its content, form, and style.
Literary genres are categories that help readers and scholars group works with similar conventions and themes. Common literary genres include fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction, each containing various subgenres.
For example, fiction can be divided into genres like mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy, amongst others.
The gothic, romance, detective story, bildungsroman, and novel of manners represent specific kinds of stories with recognizable plots within these broader categories.
Additionally, a story's genre can also be influenced by the form it takes, such as an epistolary novel or a diary format. Works like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein combine multiple genres or forms, complicating easy categorization.
Understanding a story's genre provides insight into its themes, narrative structure, and the intentions of the author. It also informs the reader's expectations and the critical framework within which the work is analyzed.