The Five mainGenres of Literature

PlayNon-FictionFictionFolk TalePoetryThe Five MainGenres of LiteratureWhat is Genre?Kind, category, or sortIs the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria.Genre are divided into sub-genresThere are many genres, but now we are just going to focus on five genres.Hint: The underline/highlighted words you would see are vocabulary words for you to learn them. You can click on them.

PlayA story for stage performance by actors

Great example Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and for all who dont know the story, but has watch Gnomeo and Juliet can relate to the movie.relates to this one. Same conflict, but different ending and characters.Since this movieNon-FictionTrue Stories of actual events or characters - Biography - Autobiography - Information - Newspaper - Reference

Great event in history September 11, 2002BiographyIs a detailed description or account of someone's life, e.g.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. everyone knows him and if not you should know him. The man who saved the African American from slavery.

AutobiographyIs a book about the life of a person, written by that person.E.g. Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

InformationInformational books can also be called non-fiction books. Informational books must be accurate, authentic, up-to-date, factual, clearly organized, and include illustrations when needed. These books should avoid anthropomorphism, stereotypes and generalizations. Sub-genres include photo documentaries, narrative texts, how-to books, question and answer books, activity books, field guides/identification books, survey books, concept books and life-cycle books.

ExampleConcluding Non-FictionNewspaperReferenceIs a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising.A book, passage, etc., to which one is directed. Well known guide in finding your source.

FictionInvented stories with imaginary characters and events. - Realistic Fiction - Historical Fiction - Science Fiction - Mystery - Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Realistic FictionAlthough untrue, could actually happen. Some events, people, and places may even be real.

A story using made-up characters, but could happen in real life.

Historical FictionTells a story that is set in the past. That the setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional.

Science FictionDealing with imaginary but more or less plausible (or at least non-supernatural) content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities. Exploring the consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".

MysteryOf, relating to, or being a mystery: mysterious and infinite truths. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown e.g. In the Shadow of the Master: Classic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe and The Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler.

Concluding Fiction FantasyFairy TaleTo form mental images; imagine; fantasize. An imagined event or sequence of mental images, such as a daydream, usually fulfilling a wish or psychological need. To have a creative imagination.Fairy tales are simple stories of humans and their dealings with magical beings such as fairies, dragons, and wizards. A simple children's story about imaginary beings. A made-up story usually meant to mislead

Folk TaleAn anonymous timeless, and placeless story the has originally told rather then written.e.g. Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel etc.

PoetryWords arranged in metrical pattern, often using rhymed verse in an imaginative style.e.g. The Wonderful Happens by Cynthia Rylant and My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

VocabularyLiterature - writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays.Anthropomorphism -an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics : humanizationStereotypes - is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals e.g. Asians are smart, French are romantic etc. Something we think about something that is true, but not 100% because not all Asians are smart not all French are romantic etc.Generalizations - to reduce to a general form, class, or law.

Click to go backCreditshttp://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/mysteries.htmlhttp://Dictionary.com http://Wikipedia.com http://listverse.com/2007/08/18/top-15-great-science-fiction-books/http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/genres/realistic/realisticfiction.htmhttp://thefreedictionary.com http://www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/genres.html