Realistic Fiction

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Fiction Genres
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Realistic Fiction
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• Realistic fiction depicts situations that could
  happen
• It consists of realistic narratives, written in
  prose, poetry, or drama, and presented in picture
  book or chapter book format
• Genuine feelings, experiences, desires, and
  concerns of characters who might have lived at
  that time and place are portrayed in realistic
  fiction

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• Writers of this genre are responsible for
  accurately depicting the times, geography,
  lifestyles, cultural values, and language of the
  selected setting
• Realistic fiction appeals to the readers because
  the characters, events, and settings are
  believable
• Conflicts developed in the narratives may be
  similar to the audiences experiences

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• This genre exposes readers to the feelings,
  attitudes, rituals, and beliefs of various
  countries, regions, cultures, and ethnic and
  religious groups
• It has the potential to help individuals
  understand their personal behavior and the
  actions of others in real-life situations

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Fables
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• Short tales intended to teach a lesson
• Generally, the moral (lesson) is stated
  explicitly at the end of the tale but is
  sometimes presented implicitly
• One character clearly depicts good traits while
  another exhibits bad characteristics
• Aesop is perhaps the most well known fablist
• When using fables in the classroom, they should
  be presented as funny, short animal adventures

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Characteristics of Fables

• Theme
• Teaches a didactic lesson about human nature and
  relationships
• Style
• Limited description and occasionally uses
  dialogue
• Plot
• Short, simple prose narrative limited plot
  development some action single episode,
  concluding with a stated moral
• Setting
• Backdrop in incidental sometimes unknown
• Characters
• Usually animals, not well developed not imortant
  to story

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Historical Fiction
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Characteristics of Historical Fiction

• Historical information is always easier to
  remember if it is associated with people
• The setting and events depicted in historical
  fiction are based on actual happenings, but many
  details and characters may be fictional
• Fictional characters in historical fiction should
  authentically reflect the concerns and lifestyles
  of the people who lived at that time and place

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• This type of literature is sometimes written to
  highlight a particular historical setting
• Through visual and verbal narratives, picture
  storybooks bring historical places and times to
  life
• Some authors of historical fiction weave family
  or regional stories into their fictionalized
  narratives

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• All writers of this genre generally spend time
  researching the historical details of a
  particular time and place
• When a designated setting is authentic, students
  can compare the past and the present to gain
  information from a historical story

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Science Fiction
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• Has been described by Isaac Asimov (a noted
  science fiction author) as an imaginative
  narrative that deals with the reaction of human
  responses to changes in the level of science and
  technology
• Science fiction requires scientific plausibility
• This genre is about science and the future, not
  about reality

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Some Themes Found In Science Fiction

• Battle between good and evil
• Will to survive portrayed
• Values of contemporary society of questioned
• May predict frustration and failure

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Types of Plot Found In Science Fiction

• Adventure
• Thought-provoking
• Moral overtones
• Suspense and conflict people against nature,
  society, or aliens

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Kinds of Characters Found in Science Fiction

• Major focus on science and technology
• Frequently stereotyped humans and nonhumans
• Protagonist may rely on intellect rather than
  emotions
• Characters manipulate environment and others for
  good and evil

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Description of the Setting Found in Science
Fiction

• Worlds are scientific and technological
• Characters often move from present to future time
• Time bay be integral to text
• Descriptions must be believable for audience to
  accept setting

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Other Characteristics found in Science Fiction

• Focuses on transitional future societies
• Many titles are sensational
• Elicits responses of wonder
• Presents questions and attitudes, not necessarily
  answers to conflicts depicted

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Some Noted Authors of Science Fiction

• Isaac Assimov The Fun They Had
• Ray Bradbury There Will Come Soft Rains
• Madeline LEngle A Wrinkle in Time
• Lois Lowry The Giver

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Fantasy
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• Described as a story tat is imaginary and not
  possible
• Defined as a fictional narrative describing
  events that the reader believes to be impossible
• Fantasy literature highlights the importance of
  the imagination, the process of transforming the
  impossible to the possible, the inclusion of the
  supernatural, the need to portray other worlds
  rooted in fact, and the appearance of magic
  in the real world

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Four Distinct Elements of Fantasy Literature

• Narrative published in a picture book, chapter
  book, or as a collection of short stories
• All literary elements of fiction are portrayed
• Time, place, characters, and objects are
  manipulated to evoke wonder and turn reality
  around
• The reader recognizes the improbable elements and
  believes the impossible

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Some Writers of Fantasy Literature

• Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales
• Jonathan Swift - Gullivers Travels
• Charles Dickens The Christmas Carol