Genres

4 Main Genre Groups Stories Poetry Drama Nonfiction

Stories (fiction) Stories (fiction) are narratives about made-up events and characters. Usually written to entertain the reader Characterized by a plot, setting, and characters.

4 Main Forms of Fiction Short Stories – often focus on a single event or incident. Most are short enough to read without taking a break. Novels – longer works of fiction that weave together many different events, storylines, and characters. Novellas – longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. They usually feature a limited number of characters. Graphic novels – a novel in comic-strip format

Common Fiction Subgroups Traditional Literature Fantasy Science Fiction Realistic Fiction Historical Fiction Mystery Horror

Traditional Literature Stories that are passed down from one group to another in history. Includes folktales, legends, fables, fairytales, tall tales, and myths from different cultures.

Fantasy Includes elements that are impossible such as talking animals, magical powers, and imaginary worlds. Make-believe is what this genre is all about.

Science Fiction The stories often tell about science and technology of the future. It is important to note that science fiction has a relationship with the principles of science—these stories involve partially true-partially fictitious laws or theories of science. It should not be completely unbelievable, because it then ventures into the fantasy genre.

Realistic Fiction A made-up story using realistic characters and events that could happen in real life.

Historical Fiction Fictional story based on or around important people or events from the past. The setting is usually real and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters are usually fictional.

Thriller/Mystery Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as the main elements. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. A mystery is a genre of fiction in which a detective, either an amateur or a professional, solves a crime or a series of crimes.

Horror Horror fiction is a genre of literature, which is intended to frighten its readers by creating feelings of horror/terror. This type of writing creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere.

Poetry Poetry is a type of literature in which words are chosen and arranged in a precise way to create certain sounds and meanings. Poems are made up of lines, which are often arranged into groups called stanzas. Types of Poetry Odes Sonnets Narrative Poems Lyric Poems

Drama Any work written to be performed on a stage Divided into scenes and primarily written as dialogue between characters The setting, characters’ movements, and props are described through stage directions Subgenres include comedies and tragedies

Nonfiction Written work based on facts Although some are entertaining (ex: biographies and true-life adventures), most are written to inform the reader

Nonfiction Subgroups Autobiography/Bio graphy Essay Speech News/Feature Articles Functional Texts See pages 8-9 in Literature book

Use what we have reviewed to help you identify the genre of each of the following.

What genre is this book? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion.

What genre is this book? Fantasy because it mentioned make-believe details like the land of Narnia and a mystical lion.

What genre is this book? Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney In his first year of middle school, the main character Greg Heffley deals with “cooties,” learning to wrestle, Halloween, acting in the school play, and other problems that many middle school students face.

What genre is this book? Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney Realistic fiction – because the setting, characters, and events are realistic. The plot could really happen, and the main character goes through real experiences that many middle school students face.

What genre is this book? The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis It is the fictional story of an African American family living in Flint, Michigan who go to their grandmother's home in Birmingham, Alabama in the year The story is told around the th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, an actual event in history.

What genre is this book? The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis Historical fiction - The story is told around the th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, an actual event in history.

What genre is this book? What are My Rights?: 95 Questions and Answers About Teens and the Law by Thomas A. Jacobs Teenagers have many questions about the law, but often they don't know where to turn for answers. This book makes it easy to explore 95 legal questions that pertain specifically to them.

What genre is this book? What are My Rights?: 95 Questions and Answers About Teens and the Law by Thomas A. Jacobs Nonfiction because it contains facts about the law that apply to teenagers.

What genre is this? Wicked by Stephen Schwartz The untold musical story of The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good... before Dorothy dropped in. Based on the imaginative Gregory Maguire novel, Wicked takes a fantasy journey through the unseen side of Oz, sharing a tale of unexpected friendship and love.

What genre is this? Wicked by Stephen Schwartz Drama because it is a musical which would be written with scenes and dialogue to be performed on stage.