5h Learning Targets

Identifying various of

genres & subgenres of

fiction

What are the different types of literary

genres and how can I identify them?

A genre is a book category defined by

style, content, and form.

Drama Poetry

Fiction Nonfiction

Folk Tales

Drama Poetry

Fiction Nonfiction

Definition A suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved

until the end of the story

Purpose Entertain

Characteristics

Detectives and solution of crime or puzzling event

Characters may be suspects

Evidence and clues are present, but

sometimes hidden

Problem to be solved

Red herring

Suspense, Cliffhangers, Foreshadowing often a Series

Examples Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Goosebumps, Encyclopedia Brown,

Young James Bond, The Egypt Game, The Adventures of

Sherlock Holmes, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, Theodore

Boone

Definition Stories that contain elements of science that may one day may

become possible but are not at the time of writing.

Purpose Entertain and Inform

Characteristics

Stresses the scientific laws and technological inventions

Stresses the interaction of humans with the science

In one approach the story usually takes place in outer space

where the technology of the future is predicted.

In the other approach future societies are portrayed, usually on

earth, with or without the presence of aliens.

Themes frequently deal with good or evil, often involving

technology.

Science Fantasy uses science “to explain the existence of the

world and magic is used thereafter.

Examples 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, City of Ember, The Roar

Definition Story often centered around a historic event in

an identifiable setting with authentic details

about the period of history.

Purpose Entertain/Inform about that time period

Characteristics

Includes historical facts or is based on

historical events with accurate details about the

setting, problems, solution, way of life, and time

period.

Only some people, places, and events are true

Story elements are realistic

Usually 30 years+

Examples Dear America series, Johnny Tremain, Hattie

Big Sky, Watson’s Go to Birmingham, Midwife’s

Apprentice, Bud Not Buddy, Storm Warriors

Takes place during the

Great Depression which

is an important historical

event

But was written in 1999

Making it historical

fiction.

Was written as RF in

1967!

2016

1967

-------

49 years ago!

This was written as

Contemporary

Realistic Fiction . . .

In 1950—so is it

historical or is it

realistic fiction?

Definition Imaginative stories with unrealistic or

unworldly elements

Purpose Entertain

Characteristics

Include events that could NEVER happen

Talking animals, extraordinary worlds, magic

Focus on good vs. evil

Anthropomorphism (attribution of human traits

emotions & intentions non-humans)

Action and fast moving plot

Solutions to problems outside of the possible.

Examples Harry Potter, Charlotte’s Web, Alice in

Wonderland, Beowulf, Gregor the Overlander

(Underland Chronicles)

First published in 1932.

We think about this as

Historical Fiction today—

but the intent when she

wrote it was Realistic

Fiction about her life

which spanned from

1867-1957.

Definition Imaginative stories quest stories with

unrealistic or unworldly elements in a created

world or imaginary kingdom.

Purpose Entertain

Characteristics

An imaginary world (usually an entirely imaginary world, but

can be a parallel world or a world-within-our-world)

A battle of good versus evil or other epic theme, with terrible

consequences to society or world if the hero fails

Multi-volume works with a complicated plot, a large cast of

characters and wide timeframe

Magic

Non-human races such as elves and dwarves and/or magical

creatures such as dragons and unicorns and/or monsters

such as orcs and trolls

Medieval technology and feudal structures

Examples LOR Tolkien, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia

3 varieties of settings for these quests:

a world separate from our world, one

where our world doesn’t even exist;

LOR

a secondary world that is reached from our

world through a portal;

Chronicles of Narnia

or, a secondary world within our own world.

Harry Potter series is a contemporary

example of the “world within a world” type

of high fantasy.

Definition Stories that are set in the real world

Purpose Entertainment

Characteristics

A contemporary story that includes events that

could really happen, but didn’t.

Or characters who are like your friends—but

made up and acting out similar things in their

day that you do—school, sports, birthdays . . .

Examples Double Fudge, Ramona Quimby, Hoot,

Hatchet, Frindle, Last Holiday Concert

Definition Stories with a moral lesson

Purpose Inform, entertain,

Characteristics

Anthropomorphism greedy goat, cunning

fox, smart owl, etc.

Minimal number of characters

Simple story beginning, problem, solution

Short with a clear lesson

Examples The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Tortoise

and the Hare, any of Aesop’s Fables

Definition Tales of magic and the supernatural

Purpose Instruct, entertain,

Characteristics

Fairy Tales usually have specific language

“Once upon a time,” “Long, long ago,” “Happily

ever after.”

Magic powers, beings or items

Royalty

Numbers 3 and 7

Handed down from the oral tradition

Many variations and lessons or themes about

human character clear good and evil

Examples Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella,

Definition Tales of magic and the supernatural or human

condition-originally written as fairy tales.

Purpose Instruct, entertain,

Characteristics

Fairy Tales usually have specific language

“Once upon a time,” “Long, long ago,” “Happily

ever after.”

Magic powers, beings or items

Royalty

Numbers 3 and 7

Handed down from the oral tradition

Many variations and lessons or themes about

human character clear good and evil

Examples Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid

Definition Short tale that teaches a moral lesson

Purpose Instruct, entertain,

Characteristics

Folk Tales come out of an oral tradition of a people and

take on the characteristics and superstitions of the time

and place in which they are told.

Folk tales speak to universal and timeless themes, and

help folks make sense of their existence or the world in

which they live.

Narrative story handed down within a culture.

Stories were created by adults for the entertainment of

other adults.

Stories frequently involve trickery. • “Folktales are a

legacy from anonymous artists of the past.” (Arbuthnot)

Examples Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears

Definition Short tale that teaches a moral lesson

Purpose Instruct, entertain,

Types of Folk

Tales

Beast Tales: Animals talk and act like humans

Cumulative Tales: sequentially repeat actions until a

climax is reached—Little Old Lady Tales House that

Jack Built

Noodlehead Stories: humorous and absurd

happenings

Pourquoi “Why” stories that explain how animals,

plants and humans came to be created and why they

have the characteristics they do.

Examples Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears

Anansi, The House that Jack Built

Definition Longer tale with some historical truth

Purpose Instruct, entertain

Characteristics

a legend is a traditional tale or group of tales

told about a specific person or place.

Legends are generally accepted as based on

fact.

The word "legend" originally pertained to a tale

about a saint; but today historical characters

often have their own legends, as do legendary

creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster

Examples The Trojan War, King Arthur

Definition Longer tale explaining nature of the world

Purpose Instruct, entertain,

Characteristics

Explain science and religion of ancient peoples

with supernatural elements to explain the

nature of the gods and demons.

Explained phenomena that would have been

scary to people such as lightening—

Zeus and his lightening bolts

Poseidon and the waves

Examples Greek and Roman Myths, Norse Myths,

Definition Tale often based in part on fact but include

incredible exaggerations.

Purpose entertainment

Characteristics

American tall tales center on the development

of the West and are said to include elements

of history, myth and fact.

Examples Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan

Genre Poetry

Definition It takes the sound of language and arranges

it in beautiful forms.

Purpose Instruct, entertain,

Characteristics

Multiple forms including: cinquain, diamonte,

concrete, free verse, limerick, haiku, lyrical,

ballad narrative, nursery rhyme and more!

Examples If I Were in Charge of the World, Robert

Frost’s Poetry for Children

Genre Informational

Definition non-fiction text

Purpose to gain knowledge

Characteristics

Includes facts and events that really

happened

Examples One Thing Leads to Another, Titanic Lost

and Found

Genre Biography

Definition Usually published in the form of a book

or essay

Purpose To state true information

Characteristics

Tells the true story of someone’s life

Examples Jackie Robinson, Amelia Earhart

Genre Reference

Definition A book or passage to which one is

directed

Purpose Use or resource for purposes of

information

Characteristics

Used for looking up information and

facts

Examples Webster’s Dictionary, an atlas, Roget’s

Thesaurus, Encyclopedia Britannica

http://content.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/r/re

ading_bestpractices_comprehension_genrechart.pdf

http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson270/genre_she

et.pdf

http://web001.greece.k12.ny.us/files/filesystem/Genres.pdf

http://www.gcms.k12.il.us/gcmsel/lynnet/literary_genres.htm

http://www.breitlinks.com/my_libmedia/children%27s_genres.htm

http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/genre.html

http://www.arrtreads.org/adventuregenrestudy.htm

http://www.swsd.k12.wa.us/MP-C/cbrune/AdventureGenre.htm

http://www.library.pima.gov/