GENRES

WHAT IS “GENRE”?

“Genre” means type.

Genres Genres EVERYWHERE!

Did you know that there are different genres of art, music, movies, and literature?

What music genre is your favorite?

The Fab Five fiction nonfiction drama folktale poetry

Fiction Uses characters, setting,

and plot to convey events that are NOT REAL

Types of Fiction: fantasy realistic fiction science fiction historical fiction mystery

FANTASY

• Made up story • Characters may have traits that are

physically impossible• Characters may solve a problem by

using magic or some other impossible strategy

• Charlotte’s Web• Harry Potter• The Lion, the

Witch, and the Wardrobe

• Lord of the Rings

Fantasy Examples:

Realistic Fiction• Made up story

• Often set in the present

• Believable characters, setting, and plot

Realistic Fiction Examples:

• Because of Winn Dixie

• Owl Moon

• Shiloh

• The Babysitters Club

Science Fiction Made up story Often set in the future or in a

different world Includes science or

technology Characters can be aliens

Science Fiction Examples:

Aliens for Breakfast A Wrinkle in Time Star Wars The Time Machine

Historical FictionMade up storySet in the pastCharacters may be

fictional or realSome events are

real and some are made up

Historical Fiction Examples:

A Boy at WarNumber the StarsTitanic CrossingThe Watsons go

to Birmingham

Mystery Made up story Revolves around discovering secrets or solving crimes

Mystery Examples:

Encyclopedia Brown Nancy Drew The Hardy Boys The Westing Game

Nonfiction

Is entirely TRUE

Types of Nonfiction:

informational biography autobiography

Informational Text Factual writing that is about a specific topic

This includes reference books, how-to books, newspapers, etc…

Informational Text Examples:

Dirt Bikes Flying Animals Encyclopedias Newspapers

Biography Factual story

about a REAL person from the past or the present

Written by someone else

Autobiography Factual story

about a REAL person from the past or the present

Written by the person the story is about

Try This! Sit next to your partner. Tell your partner the difference

in a biography and an autobiography.

Interview your partner. Based on his/her answers, write

a short biography about him/her.

Possible Interview Questions:

How old are you? What is the best thing that

has ever happened to you? What is it like being in your

family? What is the hardest life

lesson you ever had to learn?

Drama Story that is supposed to be

performed by actors – A PLAY

Uses characters and dialogue

Most are tragedies or comedies

Folktale Passed down by word of

mouth so no one knows the real author

Exaggerated characters (characters are usually ALL good or ALL bad)

Types of Folktales: tall tale fable myth fairy tale legend

Tall Tale Folktale that is humorous and extremely exaggerated

Usually takes place in the Wild West

Tall Tale Examples: Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox

Pecos Bill

Fable Short folktale that teaches a moral (lesson)

Characters are talking animals

Fables Teach a Lesson

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing = appearances can be deceiving

The Tortoise & the Hare = slow and steady wins the race

The Lion & the Mouse = little friends may become great friends

Myth Folktale that attempts to

explain how things came to be

Characters are usually gods or goddesses

Pandora’s Box

Fairy Tale Folktale that has magical events and characters

Improbable events that lead to a happy ending

Fairy Tale Examples:

Cinderella Sleeping Beauty Snow White

Legend Folktale that

is based on a REAL person or event, but can’t be proven Johnny Appleseed

A Tennessee Legend

FACT- Davy Crockett was a REAL man FACT- He is known as the “king of the

wild frontier” FACT- He represented TN in the U.S.

House of Representatives FACT- He fought and died at the Battle

of the Alamo

A Tennessee Legend

LEGEND- Davy Crockett killed a bear with his bare hands

LEGEND- He waterskied on two crocodiles

Poetry Stanzas that use sound and rhythm to express ideas

Sometimes use rhyme

Poetry Examples:

A Pizza the Size of the Sun

Where the Sidewalk Ends

So… what is your favorite genre of

book?

Who Likes Reading…

autobiography

biography

fantasy

folktale

poetry

nonfiction

historical fiction

realistic fiction

science fiction