Literary Genres

A Genre is a division or category of

literature.

GenreThere are many categories of stories

and books

Here are some of the common ones:

Major Genres Sub Genres:

Short Stories Folktales

Novels Myths

Plays Parables

Biographies Fables

Autobiographies Science Fiction

Major Genres

Poetry

Emphasizes the line as a unit of composition

page format may look different than other books

may have rhythm (beat)may rhyme tells a story in verse

            

Short Stories

A brief fictional narrative in prose.

Includes plot, characters, setting, point of view and theme.

Novels

a book length fictional prose narrative.

Much longer, therefore much more in-depth than a short story.

Plays (Drama)

A story usually performed by actors on stage or before cameras.

Most can be divided into tragedy or comedy.

Includes lines of dialogue and stage directions

Biographies

The account of a person’s life written by someone else. (not the subject.)

Can be short or book length.

Nonfiction Can be authorized

or unauthorized

Autobiographies

The story of a person’s life written by that person.

Can be short or book length.

Nonfiction

Sub-genres

Folktales

An anonymous, traditional story passed down orally long before being written down.

The author is usually anonymous (unknown)

Sometimes folktales explain the origins of things.

Myths

A Traditional story that deals with gods, goddesses, heroes, and supernatural events.

The most well-known myths are ancient Greek and Roman myths

Fables

A short, usually simple tale that teaches a moral and sometimes uses animal characters.

Themes and lessons are usually stated outright.

Parables A parable is a story

in prose or verse that is told to illustrate a religious, moral, or philosophical idea.

It differs from the fable by excluding animals that assume speech and other powers of humankind, as in Aesop's Fables.

Science Fiction

Fiction dealing with the impact of real science or imaginary superscience on human or alien societies of the past, present, or future.

Mystery/Suspense

Fiction that involves a feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, or even dread about what is going to happen next.

Fantasy

Fantasy is a type of fiction that is highly imaginative and portrays events, places/settings for characters that are imaginary/unrealistic

Nonexistent world Plot may have magic or supernatural Characters may have superhuman

powers

Adventure

An adventure story is a literary work in which action is the main event element.

Adventure novel usually focuses on a main character who is on a mission and is facing many challenges and choices.