Genre

What is Genre?

Genre is… A French word meaning type or kind

A system to classify books by their common characteristics

Types of genresPoetry Traditional literatureFantasyScience fictionRealistic fictionHistorical fictionMysteryBiography, autobiography, memoir Informational

Poetry1.Definition: shortened form of

writing

2. Figurative Language: metaphor, simile, personification, idiom, hyperbole

3. Author’s expression of feelings and opinions

4. May follow a form or structure

Traditional Literature1. Definition: stories passed down for

generations by oral storytelling

2. Oral storytelling- stories told verbally

3. Legends, folktales, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, tall tales

4. Foundation for fantasy

Fantasy

1. Plot: hero’s journey/quest, often good vs. evil

2. Setting: often medieval, time travel, magical

3. Characters: Talking animals, mythical creatures, magical users

Science Fiction1. Plot: Alien attacks/visits, time traveling,

technology, important experiments (“gone wrong”)

2. Setting: Advanced technology-cities, spaceships, other solar system/galaxy, time travel

3. Characters: Mutants, robot, aliens, “mad” scientist, talking computer

Realistic Fiction

1. Plot: Realistic Events

2. Setting: Modern time; realistic place

3. Characters: Every day people doing every day things

Historical Fiction

1. Plot: Authentic historical events with average or significant people

2. Setting: pre 1970; could be historical/important sites

3. Characters: Average/famous historical people

Mystery

1. Plot: Crime or mysterious events and clues leading to a resolution

2. Setting: Could be crime scene, detective agency, creepy house, haunting place

3. Characters: Detective, investigators, spies

Biography, Autobiography, memoir

*Bio: life

*Graph: write

*Auto: self

*Memoir: memory

1. Biography: story of someone’s life, written by someone else

2. Autobiography: story of someone’s life, written by themselves

3. Memoir: a short account of the author’s experiences, written by themselves

Informational

1. Purpose: provides information on a wide range of topics

2. Informs, educates, teaches about information

3. Nonfiction- a story of true facts

4. Science, crafts, sports, articles, social studies