Genres in Literature

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Genres in Literature

• Melinda Johnson
• Denise Philpott

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Literature is generally divided into 3 main
categories. They are Prose Poetry Drama
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Prose
Writing that is similar to everyday speech and
language. Characteristics

• Form is based on sentences and paragraphs
• Similar to everyday speech and language

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Poetry
A form of literary expression that differs from
prose in emphasizing the line as the unit of
composition Characteristics

• The line is the unit of composition
• Poems often
• use emotional, imaginative language
• use metaphor and/or simile
• are divided into stanzas
• often rhyme
• have regular pattern of stress, or meter

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Drama
A story intended to be performed by actors on a
stage or before movie or TV cameras. Characterist
ics

• Usually two basic types tragedy or comedy
• includes dialogue
• includes stage directions

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Genres Vocabulary for this Unit

• Short stories
• novels
• plays/drama
• myths, fantasies, and folktales
• odes
• ballads
• epic poetry
• science fiction
• historical fiction and historical nonfiction

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Literary Genres
Definition categories used to group different
types of literary work, such as non-fiction,
fiction and poetry.
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SubgenreA subcategory within a particular genre
The academic mystery is a subgenre of the mystery
novel.
Each genre prose, poetry, and drama can be
categorized as fiction and nonfiction

• Fiction
• situations and characters are invented by the
  author
• holds the characteristics of the major genre

• Nonfiction
• real people and real experiences
• holds the characteristics of the major genre

Example - Satchel Paige is nonfictional prose.
The story is about a real person and the things
that happened to him. And, it is written in
everyday language in the form of sentences and
paragraphs.
Example - Dragon, Dragon is fictional prose. The
situations and characters were invented by the
author. And, it is written in everyday language
in the form of sentences and paragraphs
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Our Genre List

• We will be learning about several different types
  of literary genres. It is important to remember
  that this list does not include all types of
  genres found in literary works.

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Unit Genre List

• Poetry
• Ode
• Epic
• Ballad

• Non Fiction
• Biographies
• autobiographies
• Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Mystery
• Fantasy
• Traditional Fantasy
• Fairy Tales
• Fables
• Myths
• Modern Fantasy

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Non-Fiction
This can also be called informational material.
These types of books provide information that is
factual. Nothing is make-believe in these types
of materials. More specific examples of this
type of genre would be . . .
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Biographies A true account of a person's life
written, composed, or produced by
another. Autobiographies The biography of a
person written by that person.
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What are some non-fiction stories you have read?
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Fiction
In this type of work, the author can make up the
entire story. Authors can also choose to include
factual information in a made-up story. The
author can have wizards creating magic spells or
it can be about a 12 year old girl who has a
secret crush.
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Different types of fiction
Historical Fiction The story takes the reader
back to a particular time period where they learn
about the everyday life of a person. The
character may interact with actual historical
characters, but usually, the main character is
not based on a real person. Realistic Fiction
The story usually presents a problem to be
examined that could be from anybodys life. They
may cover such topics as family situations, peer
relationships, and cultural differences.
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Science Fiction This is a type of modern
fantasy. It explores scientific fact and can
pose ethical questions about current scientific
trends and predictions. The author focuses on
the adventure of exploring the unknown and the
wonder of discovering new worlds and
people. Mystery There are different types of
mystery stories, but usually a crime has been
committed and the reader wants to try to figure
out whodunit. There is usually a great deal of
suspense and intrigue abounds.
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What are your favorite fictional stories?
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What category of fiction would you put your
favorite story in? Why?
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Science Fiction
Mystery
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Fantasy
In this type of story, the author has created a
magical world where anything is possible. There
are many types of fantasy, from fables to fairy
tales and may include magical beings, talking
animals and gods and goddesses.
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Traditional Fantasy When we think of this type
of fantasy story, we often consider stories such
as Cinderella. This genre includes folk tales,
tall tales, fables, and myths. These are stories
that have been told over and over, sometimes for
hundreds or even thousands of years! Fairy
Tales We often know we are reading or hearing a
fairy tale with the words, once upon a time . .
. Fairy tales often feature a fight between
good and evil. Evil always loses to a triumphant
hero or heroine. We also know its a fairy tale
because most end with and they lived happily
ever after.
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• Fables and Myths
• Fables These stories usually have a moral that
  is being taught. It often uses animals that
  speak and act like humans.
• Myths a story or group of stories that form
  part of the traditional knowledge of a society.
  Myths often use imaginative plots and characters
  to explain how the world began and why nature and
  people behave the way they do.

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Modern Fantasy The events in modern fantasy are
outside the realm of possibility. These stories
cannot happen in real life, but even though we
know the events cant happen, they are very
believable. These stories allow us to live in an
imaginary world where anything is possible.
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List a fairy tale, fable, a myth and a modern
fantasy.
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Bibliography
Childrens Literature Genres, http//www.alpine.k1
2.ut.us/depts/media/elemlessons_rev/m4-collections
/lesson2cl_genre.html Genre Study A
Collaborative Approach, http//www.readwritethink.
org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id270 Dictionary.com,
http//www.dictionary.com Wordsmyth,
http//www.wordsmyth.com Slide share (This
powerpoint was integrated into this document),
http//www.slideshare.net/melysa1982/literary-genr
es1