Genres of LiteratureGenres of Literature

What is a Genre?What is a Genre?

Genre means a category, or kind of story.Genre means a category, or kind of story.

All categories of books or stories can be All categories of books or stories can be classified as eitherclassified as either fictionfiction or or non-fiction.non-fiction.

FictionFiction a made up story a made up story can tell about things that can tell about things that couldcould happen happen

is read for fun is read for fun characters may be like characters may be like

real people or imaginaryreal people or imaginary

Non-FictionNon-Fiction has facts that can be has facts that can be

checked and proven checked and proven the author is an expert the author is an expert

on this informationon this information it it IS TRUEIS TRUE!!

GenreGenreThere are many genres of books. These are

some of the most common ones.

Biography Realistic Fiction

Autobiography Historical Fiction

Poetry Science Fiction

Informational Folktales/Fables

Fantasy Myths and Legends

Fairy Tales Mystery

Short Stories

REALISTIC FICTIONREALISTIC FICTION can be based on a real storycan be based on a real story characters act like real peoplecharacters act like real people character tries to solve a character tries to solve a

problemproblem story could happen in real lifestory could happen in real life character’s feelings and character’s feelings and

behaviors are like real lifebehaviors are like real life

HISTORICAL FICTIONHISTORICAL FICTIONStories are centered around a historical eventStories are centered around a historical event They are set in a historical time periodThey are set in a historical time period The characters are fictional but the events The characters are fictional but the events

could be true.could be true.

MYSTERYMYSTERY

A novel that solves a puzzling event, situation, A novel that solves a puzzling event, situation, or a crimeor a crime

Something unknownSomething unknown Focuses on the supernaturalFocuses on the supernatural

Scooby DooScooby Doo

FANTASYFANTASY

Contains elements that are NOT realisticContains elements that are NOT realistic Animal characters may act like people (they talk)Animal characters may act like people (they talk) characters may have special/magical powers characters may have special/magical powers characters may be imaginary beingscharacters may be imaginary beings setting may be in another time (future)setting may be in another time (future) usually has a good vs. evil conflictusually has a good vs. evil conflict

Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings

SCIENCE FICTIONSCIENCE FICTION Books that often tell about science and Books that often tell about science and

technology of the future.technology of the future. They often involve true theories and laws of They often involve true theories and laws of

science.science. The setting in science fiction usually takes The setting in science fiction usually takes

place in the future, in space, or in a place in the future, in space, or in a

different world or universe.different world or universe.

KnowingKnowing

BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHYBIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

A biography is a book written about a person’s A biography is a book written about a person’s life by a separate author.life by a separate author.

An An autoautobiography is a book written about a biography is a book written about a person’s life by that person. person’s life by that person.

MJ (biography)MJ (biography)

POETRYPOETRY page format may look different than other page format may look different than other

booksbooks may have rhythm (beat)may have rhythm (beat) may rhymemay rhyme imaginative and creativeimaginative and creative uses describing or exciting wordsuses describing or exciting words tells a story in versetells a story in verse

10 Things10 Things

INFORMATIONALINFORMATIONAL

Tells facts that can be looked-up or provenTells facts that can be looked-up or proven tells about real eventstells about real events characters have really livedcharacters have really lived may have maps, diagrams and illustrations to may have maps, diagrams and illustrations to

explain the factsexplain the facts author is an expert on the subjectauthor is an expert on the subject

TRADITIONAL LITERATURETRADITIONAL LITERATURE

Stories that are passed down from one group to Stories that are passed down from one group to another in history.another in history.

This includes: folktales, legends, fables, fairy This includes: folktales, legends, fables, fairy tales, tall tales, and myths from different tales, tall tales, and myths from different cultures.cultures.

Paul Bunyan