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
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