A lesson in classifying stories! Genres and Subgenres A lesson in classifying stories!

Genre The word GENRE refers to a particular type or kind of literature. GENRE = Category All writing falls into a category or genre

5 Types of Genres Fiction: Creative or imaginative writing Nonfiction: writing that is true or factual Folklore: stories once pass down orally Poetry: writing concerned with the beauty of language Drama: plays or scripts

Fiction Subgenres Fiction Fantasy Realistic Fiction Historical Fiction Adventure Mystery Science Fiction

Fiction Length Novel: Novella: Short Story: Usually 100 pages + Multiple characters, themes, conflicts and plots Novella: Shorter than a novel, longer than a short story 21-99 (roughly) Short Story: Few Characters, one theme and plot line

Realistic Fiction Form of fiction Reflects life as it could be lived today Everything could happen to people living in our natural physical world Characters have normal powers Story may be set in real places, but NOT based on history nor does it have elements of science fiction

Twenty Boy Summer (Realistic Fiction) For 16 year olds Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, their 20 day-long, minimally supervised California vacation will be the “Absolute Best Summer Ever.” And according to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance that Anna will get her first real boyfriend. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie—she’s already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Historical Fiction Based on historical events and/or real settings Characters are portrayed in a real manner Some characters may be actual people from history but the plot line is fictional Artistic mix of fact and fiction

The Only Outcast (Historical Fiction) In the summer of 1904, Fred Dickinson, a 16-year-old Canadian, sets out with his two younger brothers and sister for their annual vacation at their grandparents’ lakeside cottage. Still missing his mother, who died three years ago, Fred is relieved to escape his overbearing and critical father, who, Fred declares, “finds it too nerve-wracking to have me stumbling around all day.” Through carefully mapped scenes, Johnston traces Fred’s maturation as he rescues various siblings from danger, receives a first, painful lesson in love and discovers the truth behind the local legend involving a murderous ferryman.

Science Fiction Contains some sort of scientific element such as outer space, medicine or technology Events are within the realm of possibility but takes place in the future Blends fact and fiction with futuristic technology

The Host (Science Fiction) Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect; the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Fantasy Contains one or more of the following: Supernatural occurrences Characters and things with magical powers Animals and things with human characteristics Real people in fantastical places Fantastic creatures or characters in real situations

A Wrinkle In Time Fantasy Everyone in town thinks Meg is volatile and dull-witted and that her younger brother Charles Wallace is dumb. People are also saying that their father has run off and left their brilliant scientist mother. Spurred on by these rumors, Meg and Charles Wallace, along with their new friend Calvin, embark on a perilous quest through space to find their father. In doing so they must travel behind the shadow of an evil power that is darkening the cosmos, one planet at a time.

Mystery/Crime Stories that have a real setting Include a problem to be solved with clues & distractions Includes an answer to the problem

The Other Side of Dark (Mystery) She wakes up in a room that’s not hers, in a body she doesn’t recognize, to discover she’s been in a coma for four years. Her mother is dead—murdered—and Stacy, recovering from a gunshot wound, is the only eyewitness to her mother’s murder. She can recall only a shadowy face, so far. But the killer is not about to let her reveal his identity…

Adventure Focuses on action, danger and excitement

Other Subgenres Western Novels Romance Horror Thriller/Suspense

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle The story that takes place during an 1802 transatlantic journey that turns mutinous and even more dangerous than expected. Thirteen-year-old Charlotte must decide whom to side with and find her courage in order to survive.

Informational Writing Nonfiction Subgenres Nonfiction Persuasive Writing Biography Autobiography Informational Writing

Informational Writing Provides facts or information Newspapers Textbooks Reference Material

Persuasive Writing Writing used to influence the reader Opinion Pieces Speeches Letters

Biography Story of a real person’s life Written by someone else Author must research by interviewing subject or those who knew subject

Autobiography Story of a real person’s life Written by that person Author shares how he/she feels and what he/she thinks

Folklore Subgenres Folklore Myth Tall Tale Fairy Tale Legend Fable

Fable Short story with talking animals and a moral (lesson of the story and it is clearly stated)

Myth Has gods and goddesses May account for the creation of something

Tall Tale Funny story set in the Wild West Main character’s size or skill is exaggerated

Fairy Tales Has magic and talking animals What is the difference between a fairy tale and a fantasy? Fairy tales are part of the oral tradition Fairy tales often start with “Once Upon a Time”