Understanding of different genres in literature: Prose, Poetry, Drama

Prose in Urdu Literature

• Prose is a form of language that exhibits a natural flow of speech and grammatical structure.
• Urdu prose comes in various styles: Dastan, Khaka, Afsana, Novel.
• Dastan is a genre of Urdu literature which is a long epic prose narration of adventures. It is often full of complicated plots and sorcery, and very popular in the late 19th Century.
• Khaka is a style of prose which gives a sketch or description of something or someone. Maulana Mohammad Hussain Azad's 'Darbar-e-Akbari' is a quintessential example of Khaka.
• Afsana is Urdu's own version of the short story; a concise, single narrative prose which depicts individual’s life and his/her social, personal issues. Prominent afsana writers include Premchand, Krishan Chandar, and Ashfaq Ahmed.
• An Urdu Novel is a long narrative, normally in prose, which describes fictional characters and events, usually in the form of a sequential story. Some well-known novelists of Urdu Literature are Deputy Nazir Ahmad, Mirza Hadi Ruswa and Qurratulain Hyder.

Poetry in Urdu Literature

• Urdu Poetry is rich and has diverse form, structure and expression. Most common forms are Ghazal, Nazm, and Marsiya.
• Ghazal is a short lyric poem, usually consisting of five or more unequal couplets having a common rhyme. Famous ghazal writers are Meer, Ghalib, and Faiz.
• Nazm is a modern genre of Urdu poetry where thoughts are given written continuum from one end to the other, maintaining the unity of the entire poem. Notable nazm writers include Allama Iqbal, Firaq Gorakhpuri, and Josh Malihabadi.
• Marsiya is a form of elegiac poem to commemorate the martyrdom of Islamic figures, particularly Hussain ibn Ali. Renowned marsiya writers are Mir Anis and Mirza Dabeer.

Drama in Urdu Literature

• Drama is a genre of literature which involves presenting characters and stories through dialogue and action.
• The popularity of drama flourished with the advent of radio and television.
• Dramas are usually divided into episodes and are primarily written to be performed.
• Considered a relatively newer genre in Urdu literature, it has nonetheless produced some brilliant playwrights such as Haseena Moin and Noor-ul-Huda Shah.
• Urdu dramas typically revolve around themes of love, societal issues and family relationships.