Genres of Literature

Genre means a category, or kind of story. What is a Genre? Genre means a category, or kind of story.

All categories of books or stories can be classified as either fiction or non-fiction. a made up story can tell about things that could happen is read for fun characters may be like real people or imaginary Non-Fiction has facts that can be checked and proven the author is an expert on this information it IS TRUE!

Genre There are many genres of books. These are some of the most common ones. Biography Realistic Fiction Autobiography Historical Fiction Poetry Science Fiction Informational Folktales/Fables Fantasy Myths and Legends Fairy Tales Mystery Short Stories

REALISTIC FICTION can be based on a real story characters act like real people character tries to solve a problem story could happen in real life character’s feelings and behaviors are like real life

HISTORICAL FICTION Stories are centered around a historical event They are set in a historical time period The characters are fictional but the events could be true.

MYSTERY A novel that solves a puzzling event, situation, or a crime Something unknown Focuses on the supernatural Scooby Doo

FANTASY Contains elements that are NOT realistic Animal characters may act like people (they talk) characters may have special/magical powers characters may be imaginary beings setting may be in another time (future) usually has a good vs. evil conflict Lord of the Rings

SCIENCE FICTION Books that often tell about science and technology of the future. They often involve true theories and laws of science. The setting in science fiction usually takes place in the future, in space, or in a different world or universe. Knowing

BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY A biography is a book written about a person’s life by a separate author. An autobiography is a book written about a person’s life by that person. MJ (biography)

POETRY page format may look different than other books may have rhythm (beat) may rhyme imaginative and creative uses describing or exciting words tells a story in verse 10 Things

INFORMATIONAL Tells facts that can be looked-up or proven tells about real events characters have really lived may have maps, diagrams and illustrations to explain the facts author is an expert on the subject

TRADITIONAL LITERATURE Stories that are passed down from one group to another in history. This includes: folktales, legends, fables, fairy tales, tall tales, and myths from different cultures. Paul Bunyan