The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms - Ross Murfin 2018

Mode

Mode: A manner or method of literary expression, such as irony, pastoral, or satire. While mode is often used synonymously with form and genre, many scholars consider this usage erroneous and distinguish the term. Some use it only to refer to the broadest, overarching literary categories, such as comedy and tragedy, whereas others use it in connection with subcategories, such as the Gothic and science fiction.