Genre: a distinctive category of literary composition Literature Genre: marked by distinctive style, form and content. One is just right for YOU!
Are You for Real? NON-FICTION: real, factual, deals with actual people, places, and events FICTION: unreal, not true, not factual, a made up story
Biography Story of a real person’s life Form of nonfiction (true) Author must do research by interviewing the subject or those who knew the subject
Realistic Fiction Form of fiction (not true) Accurately reflects life as it could be lived today Everything in the story could happen to real people living in our natural physical world The characters have normal human characteristics Story may be set in real places, but the story is NOT based on history
Autobiography Form of nonfiction (true) Story of a real person’s life Written by the person the story is about
Historical Fiction Form of fiction (not true) Based on historical events Characters portrayed in realistic manner Some characters may be actual people from history, but the story is fictional
Science Fiction Form of fiction (not true) Contains some sort of scientific element, such as Outer space Medicine Technology Within the realm of possibility Characters have some believable traits/qualities
Fantasy Form of fiction (not true) Contains one or more of the following: supernatural occurrences characters with magical powers things with magical powers animals with human characteristics real people in fantastic places fantastic creatures or characters in real situations
Mystery Form of fiction (not true) Story revolves around a puzzle/problem Characters deal with the solution to a puzzle/problem, such as finding a missing item/person unraveling a secret rationalize an event that is not explained Contains clues/hints that help the characters and readers solve the puzzle/problem
Folktales Form of fiction (not true) Story that teaches a lesson Contain the beliefs and customs of a region or country Original story is modified to make it more interesting or more humorous Present larger-than-life characters and very unusual happenings
Fables Form of fiction (not true) Type of folktale Ends in a moral or lesson Characters are animals that talk and act like humans
Myths Form of fiction (not true) Pertains to the actions of the gods and/or goddesses Characters are super-natural beings with human emotions and qualities