Different Types of

Literature

How do I identify a

literary genre by its

characteristics?

What is a literary What is a literary genre?genre?

A genre is a A genre is a particular type of particular type of literature. There literature. There are major are major genresgenres that also include that also include

sub-genressub-genres..

Literary Genres and Literary Genres and Sub-GenresSub-Genres

• ProseProse •ProseProse is writing that is written in normal, is writing that is written in normal, paragraph-style language. The two main paragraph-style language. The two main types of Prose are:types of Prose are:•FictionFiction•NonfictionNonfiction

•PoetryPoetry•PoetryPoetry includes groups of lines (verses) in includes groups of lines (verses) in stanzas, which are similar to paragraphs in stanzas, which are similar to paragraphs in prose.prose.

•DramaDrama•PlaysPlays that are organized into acts and that are organized into acts and scenes with characters, dialogue, and stage scenes with characters, dialogue, and stage directions. directions.

PROSEPROSE•FictionFiction

– Writing that tells about imaginary people Writing that tells about imaginary people and events; made up from the author’s and events; made up from the author’s imagination.imagination.

IncludesIncludes::– Short Stories ( including myths, legends, Short Stories ( including myths, legends,

folktales, fables, fairy tales, etc.)folktales, fables, fairy tales, etc.)– NovelsNovels– NovellasNovellas

PROSEPROSE•NonfictionNonfiction

– Writing that is based on fact, real Writing that is based on fact, real people, and real experiences. people, and real experiences.

IncludesIncludes::– Biographies (life stories written by Biographies (life stories written by

someone else)someone else)– Autobiographies (life stories written by Autobiographies (life stories written by

themselves)themselves)– EssaysEssays– Articles (newspaper, magazine)Articles (newspaper, magazine)

• uses carefully selected words and phrases to create strong pictures in the reader’s mind

• lines of poetry (verses) are written in stanzas (similar to paragraphs in prose writing)

• may include patterns of rhyme to create rhythm and capture the reader’s interest

DramaDramaIncludes:

•a cast of characters•a narrator who gives

important information•parts called acts, or scenes•props to help support action•dialogue that tells what the actors say•stage directions in italics

TYPES OF FICTIONTYPES OF FICTION

•The following is The following is important important information information about the about the various types of various types of fiction that can fiction that can be read. be read.

•Fictional stories Fictional stories can be found incan be found in– Short StoriesShort Stories– NovelsNovels– NovellasNovellas

(short novels)(short novels)

Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction

•The setting is realistic

•The characters speak and act like real people

•The story describes real-life problems and events

•The setting is realistic

•The characters speak and act like real people

•The story describes real-life problems and events

Historical FictionHistorical Fiction• Includes imaginary Includes imaginary

characters and maybe, characters and maybe, imaginary places…imaginary places…

• But, the story is based But, the story is based on historical events from on historical events from the past, such as the the past, such as the Civil War, the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil Rights Movement, Civil Rights Movement, etc. etc.

Science FictionScience Fiction• Includes stories that Includes stories that

have to do with have to do with scientific scientific experiments or new-experiments or new-age technology. age technology.

• Includes stories that Includes stories that have to do with have to do with space trips or space trips or escapades (aliens, escapades (aliens, etc.)etc.)

•Actions are repeated over and over

•Some fables teach a lesson about what is important in life, such as fairness, kindness, or cleverness

•Characters are simpler than real people - they may be completely greedy, completely wicked , or very gentle

Fable

Folk TaleFolk Tale• Told in many different versions by Told in many different versions by

many different peoplemany different people• Original storyteller is unknownOriginal storyteller is unknown• Characters are animals that act and Characters are animals that act and

speak like peoplespeak like people• RepetitionRepetition• Use of the number three Use of the number three (the three little pigs, the (the three little pigs, the three Billy goats gruff, etc.)three Billy goats gruff, etc.)

Tall TaleTall Tale

•EExtraordinary personxtraordinary person - the main character - the main character is better at things than an ordinary personis better at things than an ordinary person

•EExaggeration xaggeration – makes something greater – makes something greater or bigger than it really could beor bigger than it really could be

•EExplanationxplanation – explains how something – explains how something came to became to be

Myth / LegendMyth / Legend Myth / LegendMyth / Legend• A kind of fantasyA kind of fantasy

• A very old story A very old story handed down by handed down by word of mouthword of mouth

• Explains something Explains something about nature or about nature or answers questions answers questions about the meaning about the meaning of life or what is of life or what is good or evilgood or evil

Fairy TalesFairy TalesOften begin with “Once upon a time” or “Long, Often begin with “Once upon a time” or “Long,

long ago”long ago”Include a good character and a bad (evil) character

Include magic or something enchanted

Involves a problem that is solved and the good people live happily ever after

Setting is a forest or a castle

NonfictionNonfiction•The following is The following is

important important information information about the types about the types of nonfiction of nonfiction that can be that can be read. read.

•Nonfiction Nonfiction Works include:Works include:– BiographiesBiographies– AutobiographiesAutobiographies– EssaysEssays– ArticlesArticles– EncyclopediasEncyclopedias– Maps/AtlasesMaps/Atlases– Charts/GraphsCharts/Graphs

BiographyBiography BiographyBiography• Story about a real Story about a real

person’s life that is person’s life that is written by written by anotheranother personperson

• Can cover a person’s Can cover a person’s whole life, part of a whole life, part of a person’s life, or a person’s life, or a single incidentsingle incident

• A true account of a A true account of a person’s life based on person’s life based on factsfacts collected by the collected by the authorauthor

• Written from the third Written from the third person point of view person point of view (he or she) because it (he or she) because it is written by someone is written by someone else. else.

AUTOBIOGRAPHAUTOBIOGRAPHYY• The story of a The story of a

person’s life written person’s life written by that person.by that person. – It can cover the It can cover the

person’s entire person’s entire life, part of their life, part of their life, or a single life, or a single incident occurring incident occurring in their life. in their life.

EssaysEssays• Essays are informational pieces that are Essays are informational pieces that are

written for a specific purpose:written for a specific purpose:– Expository EssaysExpository Essays (written to explain (written to explain

something or give info about something)something or give info about something)– Descriptive EssaysDescriptive Essays (written to describe (written to describe

something)something)– Persuasive EssaysPersuasive Essays (written to persuade (written to persuade

someone or something to do something)someone or something to do something)– Narrative EssaysNarrative Essays (written to tell a story) (written to tell a story)

ArticlesArticles•Magazine ArticlesMagazine Articles

•Newspaper Newspaper ArticlesArticles

•Encyclopedia Encyclopedia ArticlesArticles, or other , or other reference book reference book articles.articles.

Review QuestionsReview Questions• What is a “genre” of literature?What is a “genre” of literature?• What are the three What are the three mainmain types of types of

Literature? Literature? • What is the difference between Prose, What is the difference between Prose,

Poetry, and Drama?Poetry, and Drama?• What are the two What are the two mainmain types of Prose? types of Prose?• What is the difference between Fiction What is the difference between Fiction

and Nonfiction?and Nonfiction?

Review QuestionsReview Questions• What are some examples of Fiction?What are some examples of Fiction?• What are some examples of Nonfiction?What are some examples of Nonfiction?• Where might fictional stories be found?Where might fictional stories be found?• Where might nonfictional information Where might nonfictional information

be found?be found?• What is the difference between What is the difference between

Realistic Fiction and Science Fiction?Realistic Fiction and Science Fiction?• What are the three “E”’s of a Tall Tale?What are the three “E”’s of a Tall Tale?

Review QuestionsReview Questions• How do Fairy Tales usually begin?How do Fairy Tales usually begin?

• What is the difference between a What is the difference between a Biography and an Autobiography?Biography and an Autobiography?

• What are the four types of Essays?What are the four types of Essays?

• Where might Articles be found?Where might Articles be found?