1. Forms of Literature
6th Grade
Reading
Created by:
Ms. Peldonia

2. Objective
We will distinguish the important elements and characteristics of all the genres using guided note-taking, crossword puzzle, Loopwriter game, and a review test.

3. 1. Novel or Novella
Long works of prose fiction that tell a story about imaginary people or animals called characters that live in a made-up world, or setting.
Novellas are briefer than a novel.

4. 2. Short Story
A brief work of prose fiction that tells about imaginary people or animals called characters.

5. 3. Nonfiction
Nonfiction tells a story of a person’s life, narrates a series of true events, describes a real scene, and/or presents information.

6. Examples of Nonfiction
Autobiography – the story of parts or all of a person’s life, written by that person (all true events)
Biography – an author tells a story of someone else’s life (usually of a person whose life has a special meaning)
Exposition – to present and explain information
Informal Text – ranging from directions and warranties to maps and contracts, they are real-world texts that you encounter as you manage your daily life

7. Essays are another form of nonfiction
Essay – brief prose works about a particular subject
There are four different types of nonfiction essays.
Reflective – explore an author’s thoughts about ideas or experiences
Narrative – tells a story of actual events
Descriptive – presents people, situations, or places
Persuasive – tries to convince readers to think or act in a certain way

8. 4. Poetry Poetry is literature that appears in verse form.
Forms and Purposes
Elegy – relatively long formal poem about death or other serious topics
Epic – long narrative poem that conveys the adventures of heroic characters and is connected to the history of a nation, race, or religion.
Ode – dignifies uplifting lyrics written to celebrate a person, place, thing or event
Sonnet – 14-line lyric poem with one of several rhymes schemes.

9. 5. Drama Drama can be written in prose or poetry.
Drama tells a story through the words and actions of actors who impersonate the characters.
Text contains the characters’ spoken words, or dialogue, and bracketed information, called stage directions.

10. 6. The American Folk Traditions
Myths, tales, ballads, and tall tales all make up this rugged, outdoor literature.
They were shaped by singers and storytellers around campfires for generations before being brought to the “indoors” of a printed page.

11. American Folk Terms
Folk Tale – a story passed down by word of mouth for the purpose of teaching the ideas and values of a culture.
When reading folk tale you should notice certain elements of the culture that produce them.
A specific setting such as a desert or riverside landscape.
The unique rituals and customs of a group.
The values or beliefs that people hold.
Specific dialect, or the patterns of speech that are characteristic of a cultural group or region

12. More American Folk Terms
Myth – tales of gods, heroes, and animals that explain natural occurrences or customs and beliefs
Tall Tale – a humorous story that recounts exaggerated events in a matter-of-fact way, using the everyday speech of the common people

13. That’s all folks!