Final answer:
Literary genres in the 21st century encompass traditional categories like creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry, with an array of subgenres like gothic, romance, detective story, bildungsroman, and novel of manners. Fiction includes literary fiction, mysteries, science fiction, and more, each offering unique elements and storytelling techniques. The evolving literary landscape sees new blends and subversions of these genres by contemporary authors.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 21st century, literary genres have continued to evolve, preserving traditional forms while also embracing innovation. Genres act as a means of categorization for literary works, helping readers and critics understand and contextualize stories. The most common genres include creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry. Within these broad categories, we find an even wider array of subgenres. For example, fiction itself encompasses genres such as mysteries, science fiction, romance, fantasy, and many more.
In fiction, the term 'literary fiction' is often used to describe complex narratives that explore character development and thematic depth, including works by the likes of Dickens and Austen. Other popular subgenres such as gothic, romance, detective story, bildungsroman, and novel of manners provide readers with familiar elements and structures but can also be blended or subverted by writers to create fresh narratives. The integration and transformation of these genres by contemporary authors contribute to an expanding and dynamic literary landscape.