genres and literature

Genres and Literature

When you speak about genre and literature, genre means a category, classification, or the type of writing

style or format.

Mrs. Kovacs

Longer Plot, character, setting, point of view, theme Plots might have subplots and more than one

conflict and sometimes more than one theme A theme is_________________________________

____________________________________________ Some novels may have related or independent

stories and conflicts within the one main plot

Novel

Brief Plot, character, setting, point of view, theme Focus: one main plot, one main conflict, one

theme, read in one sitting Shorter than a novel but longer than a short

story? = Novellas

Short Story

Fiction A made-up story Can tell about

things that could happen

Is read for fun Characters may be

like real people or imaginary

Non-Fiction Has facts that can be

checked and proven Facts are _____________

____________________________________________

The author is an expert on this information.

All categories of books or stories can be called either fiction or non-fiction.

Fiction◦ Fantasy◦ Mystery◦ Poetry◦ Historical Fiction◦ Realistic Fiction◦ Science Fiction◦ Adventure◦ Play/Drama◦ Traditional Literature

(like Folktales, Fairy Tales, Fables, Myths, Legend)

Non-fiction◦ Expository a.k.a.

Informational ◦ “How to” books◦ Arts and crafts books

◦ Biographies◦ Autobiography/

Memoir◦ Narrative Non-Fiction

Genre - Subcategories

Source: Open Court Classics; SRA/McGraw-Hill

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)

•

RulesThe Study of Genre

Nancy R. Craig


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


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


Example: Expository Text a.k.a. Informational

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


Example: Realistic Fiction

Some of the elements 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


Example: Adventure Tale - Odyssey

Some of the elements of the genre of adventure tales:

•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.•There is usually a hero, danger, some sort of traveling and the hero is a little different by the end of the story.


Nancy R. Craig


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


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


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

Suspense is the driving force for the plotCharacters are usually placed in danger or

cause dangerA sub-genre of Realistic, Historical, Science,

and Fantasy Fiction

ThrillerThe Study of Genre

Their characters are real.There is suspense and excitement.One or more (1+) characters are trying to

solve a problem using clues.Some danger to the characters.Problems are realistic and sometimes involve

crimes.

Mystery


Traditional Literature

Tells about the great deeds of a person who may have lived

May exaggerate a person’s bravery or powers

Probably a long ago setting Story may be considered a part of the

history and culture of a group of people Magic may be used to solve a problem A lesson can be learned from the story Probably were told orally before people

wrote stories down.

The Study of Genres

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http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0688099246.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


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


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

RulesThe Study of Genres

Nancy R. Craig


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


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


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


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


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

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