Literary Genres

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Literary Genres
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What is a genre?

• Imagine you have to explain it to your 8 year old
  sister.
• A way of organizing works into categories
• A way to name the general content of a book

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Two-Faced Genre

• NON-FICTION
• Stories that are true
• Based on real people, places, events, or objects
• Includes true FACTS

• FICTION
• Stories that are made up by the author
• Are not true
• The best part of the fiction in many novels is
  the notice that the characters are purely
  imaginary.
• Franklin Adams, 1881-1960

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Realistic Fiction

• Definition A modern day story that contains
  events that could actually happen, BUT the
  characters are made-up
• Problems at school, family problems, divorce,
  self-image problems, arguments with friends
• Example Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

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Historical Fiction

• Definition a story that takes place during a
  historical time period, but it revolves around
  made up characters and events.
• Often the setting (where it takes place) is real,
  but the characters are made-up.
• outdated language (like Ye olde school)
• outdated clothes (bonnet)
• historical events (The Battle of Georgetown or
  The Holocaust)
• Real people (George Washington)
• Example Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Fantasy

• A story that includes impossible elements that
  are made-up such as talking animals or magical
  powers. Make-believe is what this genre is all
  about!
• talking animals, magical powers, mythical
  creatures, medieval knights in a made up land,
  swords, magic potions, elves
• Example Harry Potter series

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Science Fiction

• Definition A story which includes advanced and
  far-fetched (made up) science and technology or
  revolves around time travel and space
• science experiments gone wrong or right,
  impossible medical advances, aliens, space
  travel, new planets or worlds, zombies (!), a
  future dystopian society
• Examples World War Z, The Giver, The Hunger
  Games

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Mystery

• Definition A suspenseful story about a puzzling
  event or problem that needs to be solved.
• Often includes a detective, clues, an unsolved
  crime, a disappearance
• Key words victim, missing items, a theft
• Example Sherlock Holmes

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Action/Adventure

• Definition An exciting story that revolves
  around a character going on journey or a quest
• The characters often face personal risk or
  physical danger
• Journey, quest, obstacles, challenges, battles,
  tasks to complete, nature, storms
• Example The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen or the
  Indiana Jones movies

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Horror

• Definition A story that intends to scare,
  unsettle, or horrify the audience
• Often includes scary settings, a creepy tone,
  strange or disturbing characters
• Key words- murder, blood, gore, evil creatures,
  or ghosts
• Examples Paranormal Activity movie

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Always Honest Non-Fiction

• Informational texts
• Biography
• Autobiography

• NON-FICTION
• Stories that are true
• Based on real people, places, events, or objects

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Informational Texts

• Texts that provide facts about a variety of
  topics
• sports, animals, science, history, careers,
  travel, geography, space,

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Biography

• The story of a real persons life written by
  another person.
• Includes factual information about a famous
  person, topic, or event

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Auto-Biography

• The story of a real persons life that is written
  by that person.
• Includes facts about a famous person, topic, or
  event