Genre

genre: the major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions are poetry, prose, and drama. However, subdivisions may also be called genres:prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) and non-fiction (essays, biography, journals, autobiography, etc.)

The autobiography of Frederick Douglass is in the nonfiction prose genre. Douglass probably wrote this himself, thus classifying it as such, for multiple reasons. He wanted to show that it could be done by an American slave, that it was possible for a slave to rise and compete on a level field with Caucasians. He probably also wanted to make sure that his purpose was clear and communicated, and his book reliable. By writing the book himself he cuts out a middle man, ensuring that what he wants to say is clear. Douglass wanted his book to bring people to the realization that slavery is bad, and to enable people to prove that slavery is bad, as many claimed that the slaves were content. Writing the book himself causes the book to take on the genre of a reliable research book, not a fictionalized, or second-hand account.