1. Some of the elements of the genre of fairy tales:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Fairy Tales
Some of the elements of the genre of fairy tales:
Begins with the phrase like “Once upon a time…” or “Once there was…”
Setting is a faraway or imaginary land
Characters are often royal, such as kings, queens, princes, princess…
Things happen or appear in threes
The granting of wishes
The use of magical powers
A happy ending where good wins over evil
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

2. Some of the elements of the genre of folk tales:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Folk Tales
Some of the elements of the genre of folk tales:
A story that has been told and retold over generations
Different countries have similar folk tales
Folk tales often begin with “Once upon a time” or “Long ago in a far away place…”
Characters can be animals or objects that can speak
The story often teaches a lesson or moral
Good or smart wins over evil or stupid
The story is told using the words he, she or it
Actions or words are often repeated (in a pattern)
The story has an exciting “high point” at the end
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

3. Example: Adventure Tale
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Adventure Tale
Some of the elements of the genre of adventure tales:
A story has characters who behave like real people and animals.
The settings are real or could be real.
The events could happen in real life
The story has action or suspense, or both.
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

4. Some of the elements of the genre of fable: Stories are very short
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Fable
Some of the elements of the genre of fable:
Stories are very short
Stories usually have two or three characters
The characters may be animals or things that act like people
Teach a “lesson” or moral
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

5. Some of the elements of the genre of fantasy:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example:Fantasy
Some of the elements of the genre of fantasy:
People,animals,or objects do things they cannot do in real life.
Story takes place in a make-believe setting that does not exist in the real world
Story has creatures in it that are not found in real life
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

6. Some of the elements of the genre of legend:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Legend
Some of the elements of the genre of legend:
A story about a hero or heroine
May be based on facts, but the hero or heroine’s actions are “bigger” than life
The story has factual elements, but through countless retellings, the characters and their actions have become exaggerated
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

7. Some of the elements of the genre of myth:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Myth
Some of the elements of the genre of myth:
A story that offers an explanation of how something in nature looks or happens
A story that explains why people act as they do
The characters may be human, or gods or goddesses
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

8. Some of the elements of the genre of biography:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Biography
Some of the elements of the genre of biography:
An account of a real person’s life written by someone else
Tells important information about a person’s life, including his or her achievements or talents.
Tells how a person talks, feels, and thinks about things
Either may be the about the person’s whole life or part of their life
Events are usually told in the order they occurred (chronologically)
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

9. Example: Autobiography
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Autobiography
Some of the elements of the genre of autobiography:
An account by a person about his or her own life
Tells important information about their own life, including achievements or talents.
Tells how the person talks, feels, and thinks about things
Either may be the about the person’s whole life or part of their life
Events are usually told in the order they occurred (chronologically)
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

10. Example: Science Fiction
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Science Fiction
Some of the elements of the genre of science fiction:
Characters solve problems in a futuristic setting anywhere in the universe
Humans, extraterrestrials, or members of other species
Involve the effects of advanced science and technology on life
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

11. Example: Realistic Fiction
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Realistic Fiction
Some of the elements of of the genre realistic fiction:
Characters behave like real people and animals
Settings in the story are real or could be real
Events in the story could happen in real life
Conflicts in the story are similar to problems that happen in real life
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

12. Example: Historical Fiction
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Historical Fiction
Some of the elements of the genre of historical fiction:
Story is set in a particular time and place in the past
Story contains details that make the story more realistic.
Characters talk, dress, and act like people of that time period
Story involves real people and actual events that happened in history
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

13. Example: Narrative Non-Fiction
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Narrative Non-Fiction
Some of the elements of the genre of narrative non- fiction:
Characters are real people, settings are real places, and the plot is comprised of real events presented in the form of a story.
Story includes thoughts and feeling the author imagines the characters might have had.
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

14. Example: Expository Text
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Expository Text
Some of the elements of the genre of expository text:
Gives factual and verifiable information about a specific subject. Information presented can be checked using other sources, i.e. newspapers, encyclopedias, etc.
Uses facts about real events and people
Presents information in a clear way
Gives events in the order in which they happened
Writing organized by topics
May use diagrams, photographs, and other illustrations
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

15. Some of the elements of the genre of play/drama:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Play/Drama
Some of the elements of the genre of play/drama:
Meant to be performed or acted out
Has a list that names and describes the characters
Includes descriptions of scenes or settings
Includes dialogue or lines that the characters speak to one another
Includes stage directions giving more details about what is happening on the stage or what actors are to do
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

16. Some of the elements of the genre of poetry:
The Study of Genre
Rules
Example: Poetry
Some of the elements of the genre of poetry:
Poems often contain words that rhyme
Poems often contain incomplete sentences, each on its own line
Poems often contain lines with rhythm or meter
Poems often contain repeated words
Poems often are rich in imagery
Nancy R. Craig
Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill