GENRES OF LITERATURE

Fiction Non-Fiction

Andrea CurdRDG 541

Poetry

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Fiction

Fantasy Historical Fiction

Mystery

Realistic Fiction

Science Fiction

Adventure

Folktales

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Non-Fiction

Biography Autobiography Essay

Encyclopedia Textbook How-To

Magazine Research Report

Almanac

Brochure Newspaper Atlas

Memoir Editorial Advertisement

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Poetry

Free Verse Structured

List poem Couplet

Poem of address Haiku

Narrative poem Cinquain

Diamante

Acrostic

Biopoem

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FANTASY A story that is imaginative, but could never really

happen. The setting may be of another world. Characters might be magical.

Fiction

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HISTORICAL FICTION A story that takes place in a historically accurate time

and setting. The characters and some events are fictional.

Fiction

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MYSTERY A story that usually involves suspense and the solving

of a crime. Clues are typically given throughout the story to solve the mystery at the end of the book.

Fiction

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REALISTIC FICTION A story that seems real or could happen in real life. It

is set in present day and includes modern day problems and events.

Fiction

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SCIENCE FICTION A story that is typically set in the future or on other

planets. It is based on the impact of actual, imagined, or potential science.

Fiction

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ADVENTURE A story where a protagonist and other major

characters and are placed in dangerous situations. The characters must use their wit and skills to defeat the antagonist.

Fiction

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FOLKTALES

Fable

Fairy Tale

Legend

Tall Tale

Myth

Fiction

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FABLE A brief story that is meant to tell a lesson or a moral.

The characters are usually animals with human characteristics.

Fiction:Folktale

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FAIRY TALE A story that has magical elements. The characters are

usually fairies, giants, elves, and other magical creatures.

Fiction:Folktale

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LEGEND A story usually about a national or folk hero. This story

takes place in a particular time and place and is partly true and partly fiction. The character traits of the hero are typically exaggerated.

Fiction:Folktale

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TALL TALE A humorous story with extreme exaggerations. The

main character, or hero, usually does impossible things with ease.

Fiction:Folktale

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MYTH A story that is often based on a historical event that is

meant to serve as an explanation for some phenomenon of nature or human behavior. Characters are usually gods.

Fiction:Folktale

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LIST POEM

A poem that is based on a list or catalog of some sort.

Poetry:Free Verse

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POEM OF ADDRESS

A poem that is written to somebody or something. It is not about that person or thing.

Poetry:Free Verse

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NARRATIVE POEM

A poem that is written from a different point of view. First person poems use the word “I”. It is personal because an individual is speaking to us. Second person poems use the word “you”. It is intimate because it is like speaking to someone in the room. Third person poems use words such as “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, etc. It is like speaking to someone who is not there with you.

Poetry:Free Verse

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COUPLET

A form of poetry that uses two lines that rhyme.

Poetry:Structured

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HAIKU

A type of poetry from the Japanese culture. It consists of three lines. The first line has five syllables, the second has seven syllables, and the third has five syllables. Haiku does not rhyme. It is meant to paint a mental image. Haikus are typically about nature.

Poetry:Structured

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CINQUAIN

A cinquain is a five line poem. Line 1: one word (subject or noun) Line 2: two words (adjectives) that describe line 1 Line 3: three words (action verbs) that relate to line

1 Line 4: four words (feelings or a complete

sentence) that relates to line 1 Line 5: one word (synonym of line 1 or a word that

sums it up)

Poetry:Structured

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DIAMANTE

A seven line poem in the shape of a diamond. Line 1: one word (subject/noun that is contrasting to line

7) Line 2: two words (adjectives) that describe line 1 Line 3: three words (action verbs) that relate to line 1 Line 4: four words (nouns) first 2 words relate to line 1

last 2 words relate to line 7 Line 5: three words (action verbs) that relate to line 7 Line 6: two words (adjectives) that describe line 7 Line 7: one word ( subject/noun that is contrasting to line

1)

Poetry:Structured

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ACROSTIC

A poem in which the first letters of each line spell a special word.

Poetry:Structured

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BIOPOEM

A poem in which a person is described in eleven lines. (First name)- (Four adjectives) (Brother of or Sister of) Lover of (three different things that the person loves) Who feels (three different feelings and when or where they are felt) Who gives (three different things the person gives) Who fears (three different fears the person has) Who would like to see (three different things the person would like to see) Who lives (a brief description of where the person lives) -(Last name)

Poetry:Structured

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BIOGRAPHY A history of someone’s life, or part of someone’s life.

This is a true story about a real person.

Non-Fiction

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AUTOBIOGRAPHY A biography written by a person about his/her own life

and history.

Non-Fiction

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ESSAY A short composition, usually written from the author’s

point of view. Essays can be persuasive, comparative, literary criticism, political manifestos, arguments, observations, recollections, or reflections.

Non-Fiction

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HOW-TO An instructional form of writing that demonstrates how

to do a task, activity, procedure, etc.

Non-Fiction

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TEXTBOOK A manual of instruction or standard book in any

branch of study. Textbooks are usually written according to educational demands.

Non-Fiction

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ENCYCLOPEDIA A comprehensive written work that is used as a

reference. It contains articles on various topics and branches of knowledge.

Non-Fiction

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MAGAZINE A periodical that contains articles, pictures,

advertisements, stories, etc. that is published on a regular schedule.

Non-Fiction

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RESEARCH REPORT An informational, objective piece of writing based on

multiple accurate references.

Non-Fiction

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ALMANAC An annual publication that contains tabular

information in a particular field(s) according to the calendar. Information such as astronomical data, the rising and setting of the sun and moon, eclipses, hours of the tide, etc.

Non-Fiction

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NEWSPAPER A publication containing news, information, current

events, and advertising. There are feature articles on topics such as political events, crime, business, art/entertainment, society, and sports. Many newspapers also include some editorial columns. Other sections include advertising, comics, and coupons.

Non-Fiction

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ATLAS A collection of maps of Earth, or parts of Earth. The

atlas presents geographic features, political boundaries, and geopolitical, social, religious, and economic statistics.

Non-Fiction

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MEMOIR A type of an autobiography. It is a writer’s own

account of one or two important events and is told in the first person. It is descriptive and highly personal.

Non-Fiction

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BROCHURE A pamphlet or leaflet advertisement. Brochures may

advertise locations, events, hotels, products, services, etc. They are usually brief in language and have an eye-catching design.

Non-Fiction

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EDITORIAL An article that is usually in a newspaper or magazine,

or on television or the radio. This article expresses the author’s personal opinion and view on a particular topic.

Non-Fiction

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ADVERTISEMENT A public promotion of a product or service. It is a form

of communication used to help sell these products or services. It usually describes how the products or services can benefit the customer.

Non-Fiction