1. Different Types of Literature
Literary Genres
Different Types of Literature

2. How do I identify a literary genre by its characteristics?
Essential Question
How do I identify a literary genre by its characteristics?

3. What is a literary genre?
A genre is a particular type of literature. There are major genres that also include sub-genres.

4. Literary Genres and Sub-Genres
Prose
Prose is writing that is written in normal, paragraph-style language. The two main types of Prose are:
Fiction
Nonfiction
Poetry
Poetry includes groups of lines (verses) in stanzas, which are similar to paragraphs in prose.
Drama
Plays that are organized into acts and scenes with characters, dialogue, and stage directions.

5. PROSE
Fiction
Writing that tells about imaginary people and events; made up from the author’s imagination.
Includes:
Short Stories ( including myths, legends, folktales, fables, fairy tales, etc.)
Novels
Novellas

6. PROSE
Nonfiction
Writing that is based on fact, real people, and real experiences.
Includes:
Biographies (life stories written by someone else)
Autobiographies (life stories written by themselves)
Essays
Articles (newspaper, magazine)

7. Poetry
lines of poetry (verses) are written in stanzas (similar to paragraphs in prose writing)
may include patterns of rhyme to create rhythm and capture the reader’s interest
uses carefully selected words and phrases to create strong pictures in the reader’s mind

8. Drama Includes: a cast of characters
a narrator who gives important information
parts called acts, or scenes
props to help support action
dialogue that tells what the actors say
stage directions in italics

9. TYPES OF FICTION
The following is important information about the various types of fiction that can be read.
Fictional stories can be found in
Short Stories
Novels
Novellas (short novels)

10. Realistic Fiction The setting is realistic
The characters speak and act like real people
The story describes real-life problems and events

11. Historical Fiction
Includes imaginary characters and maybe, imaginary places…
But, the story is based on historical events from the past, such as the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil Rights Movement, etc.

12. Science Fiction
Includes stories that have to do with scientific experiments or new-age technology.
Includes stories that have to do with space trips or escapades (aliens, etc.)

13. Fable
Characters are simpler than real people - they may be completely greedy, completely wicked , or very gentle
Actions are repeated over and over
Some fables teach a lesson about what is important in life, such as fairness, kindness, or cleverness

14. Folk Tale Told in many different versions by many different people
Original storyteller is unknown
Characters are animals that act and speak like people
Repetition
Use of the number three
(the three little pigs, the
three Billy goats gruff, etc.)

15. Tall Tale
Extraordinary person - the main character is better at things than an ordinary person
Exaggeration – makes something greater or bigger than it really could be
Explanation – explains how something came to be

16. Myth / Legend A kind of fantasy
A very old story handed down by word of mouth
Explains something about nature or answers questions about the meaning of life or what is good or evil

17. Fairy Tales Include a good character and a bad (evil) character
Often begin with “Once upon a time” or “Long, long ago”
Involves a problem that is solved and the good people live happily ever after
Include magic or something enchanted
Setting is a forest or a castle

18. Nonfiction
The following is important information about the types of nonfiction that can be read.
Nonfiction Works include:
Biographies
Autobiographies
Essays
Articles
Encyclopedias
Maps/Atlases
Charts/Graphs

19. Biography
Story about a real person’s life that is written by another person
Can cover a person’s whole life, part of a person’s life, or a single incident
A true account of a person’s life based on facts collected by the author
Written from the third person point of view (he or she) because it is written by someone else.

20. AUTOBIOGRAPHY The story of a person’s life written by that person.
It can cover the person’s entire life, part of their life, or a single incident occurring in their life.

21. Essays
Essays are informational pieces that are written for a specific purpose:
Expository Essays (written to explain something or give info about something)
Descriptive Essays (written to describe something)
Persuasive Essays (written to persuade someone or something to do something)
Narrative Essays (written to tell a story)

22. Articles Magazine Articles Newspaper Articles
Encyclopedia Articles, or other reference book articles.

23. Review Questions What is a “genre” of literature?
What are the three main types of Literature?
What is the difference between Prose, Poetry, and Drama?
What are the two main types of Prose?
What is the difference between Fiction and Nonfiction?

24. Review Questions What are some examples of Fiction?
What are some examples of Nonfiction?
Where might fictional stories be found?
Where might nonfictional information be found?
What is the difference between Realistic Fiction and Science Fiction?
What are the three “E”’s of a Tall Tale?

25. Review Questions How do Fairy Tales usually begin?
What is the difference between a Biography and an Autobiography?
What are the four types of Essays?
Where might Articles be found?