fiction genres 2: science fiction and fantasy

Fiction Genres

• Historical fiction• Realistic fiction• Fantasy• Science fiction• Mystery• Folktales• Genre hybrids

Fantasy

Fantasy stories include magic, mythical creatures, and things that just can’t happen in everyday life

Fantasy

Fantasy stories can happen in the real world, or in imaginary fantasy worlds

Fantasy

Even though fantasy stories include magic, there are still rules…it’s important to pay attention to the way that magic works in each story

Which story is the fantasy?

The castle rose above the hill. James trudged up the road, eager to find out what lay ahead. Soon, soon he would learn all that there was to being a knight. He would start as a page, and then become a squire, and then he would become a knight. But all of that was years in the future. First, he had to make it up that hill!

“Where is my apprentice?” roared the wizard. A slim, small boy appeared at the door. “Yes, Master List?” he asked. “I need your help!” exclaimed the wizard. “The kingdom is being threatened by a dragon. I can stop it, but I need to finish this potion.” The boy sighed. It would be a long, long day.

Fantasy

“Where is my apprentice?” roared the wizard. A slim, small boy appeared at the door. “Yes, Master List?” he asked. “I need your help!” exclaimed the wizard. “The kingdom is being threatened by a dragon. I can stop it, but I need to finish this potion.” The boy sighed. It would be a long, long day.

What details make this a fantasy?

Fantasy

“Where is my apprentice?” roared the wizard. A slim, small boy appeared at the door. “Yes, Master List?” he asked. “I need your help!” exclaimed the wizard. “The kingdom is being threatened by a dragon. I can stop it, but I need to finish this potion.” The boy sighed. It would be a long, long day.

What details make this a fantasy?

Fantasy

Be careful! Fantasy stories can sometimes start out sounding like realistic fiction. Look for the little details that point to fantasy.

Reading for Fantasy Details

Can you find the details that point to a fantasy?

Rachel walked up to her school. She had her homework and her lunch. She was ready for the day.

But then she stared at the entrance to the school. Overnight, the regular metal doors had transformed into a huge drawbridge. A scaly green dragon coiled around the swing set.

Reading for Fantasy Details

Can you find the details that point to a fantasy?

Rachel walked up to her school. She had her homework and her lunch. She was ready for the day.

But then she stared at the entrance to the school. Overnight, the regular metal doors had transformed into a huge drawbridge. A scaly green dragon coiled around the swing set.

Animal Fantasy

Stories which include talking animals are a kind of fantasy called animal fantasy

Why should I care?

• Fantasy stories often show how even magic can’t solve every problem

• Reading fantasy stories expands your imagination and helps you to imagine other worlds and other possibilities

What have you learned?

• How is fantasy different from realistic fiction?

• What fantasy stories have you read?

Fiction Genres

• Historical fiction• Realistic fiction• Fantasy• Science fiction• Mystery• Folktales• Genre hybrids

Science Fiction

• Like fantasy, science fiction includes details and events that can’t happen in the real world

• Instead of magic, though, science fiction focuses more on special technology

Science Fiction

In science fiction, look for: Time travel

Unbelievable gadgets

Aliens

Space travel that doesn’t yet exist

Science Fiction

• Science fiction stories often explore how technology affects people and changes our lives

• Some stories show that amazing technology still doesn’t make people happy

• Others show that some kinds of technology can cause problems in the world

Science Fiction

Science fiction stories can happen in the past, present, or future

What details show that this is science fiction?

Topher pressed the button. Zoom! Zip! Suddenly he was traveling up, up toward the sky. Wow! This was not boring. Topher looked down toward his backyard. It was getting smaller and smaller and smaller. He looked up at the sky. The clouds were getting closer and closer. Whoosh! He flew through a cloud. It felt wet and slimy. But then things started getting darker. He was leaving Earth’s atmosphere. Now he was in space! Topher saw a gray green spaceship ahead. A black door opened and he drifted through. Wow! This was much, much better than playing with a flat soccer ball.

What details show that this is science fiction?

Topher pressed the button. Zoom! Zip! Suddenly he was traveling up, up toward the sky. Wow! This was not boring. Topher looked down toward his backyard. It was getting smaller and smaller and smaller. He looked up at the sky. The clouds were getting closer and closer. Whoosh! He flew through a cloud. It felt wet and slimy. But then things started getting darker. He was leaving Earth’s atmosphere. Now he was in space! Topher saw a gray green spaceship ahead. A black door opened and he drifted through. Wow! This was much, much better than playing with a flat soccer ball.

What details show that this is science fiction?

Topher pressed the button. Zoom! Zip! Suddenly he was traveling up, up toward the sky. Wow! This was not boring. Topher looked down toward his backyard. It was getting smaller and smaller and smaller. He looked up at the sky. The clouds were getting closer and closer. Whoosh! He flew through a cloud. It felt wet and slimy. But then things started getting darker. He was leaving Earth’s atmosphere. Now he was in space! Topher saw a gray green spaceship ahead. A black door opened and he drifted through. Wow! This was much, much better than playing with a flat soccer ball.

Why should I care?

• Many people think that new technology is always good—the newer and faster the better!

• Science fiction helps us to think about some of the effects of new technology that may not be as great for ourselves and our world

Test yourself!

Which genre includes real events that happened in the past, along with details made up by the author?

A.Realistic fictionB.Historical fictionC.Science fictionD.Fantasy

Test yourself!

Which genre includes real events that happened in the past, along with details made up by the author?

A.Realistic fictionB.Historical fictionC.Science fictionD.Fantasy

Test yourself!

You are reading a story about fifth graders who create a school newspaper. You are probably reading…

A.Realistic fictionB.Historical fictionC.Science fictionD.Fantasy

Test yourself!

You are reading a story about fifth graders who create a school newspaper. You are probably reading…

A.Realistic fictionB.Historical fictionC.Science fictionD.Fantasy

Test yourself!

You pick up a book from the library. It has a castle and a unicorn on the cover. This book is probably…

A.Realistic fictionB.Historical fictionC.Science fictionD.Fantasy

Test yourself!

You pick up a book from the library. It has a castle and a unicorn on the cover. This book is probably…

A.Realistic fictionB.Historical fictionC.Science fictionD.Fantasy