David Landry

How do I identify a

genre by its characteristic

s?

What is a literary What is a literary genre?genre?

A genre is a A genre is a particular style or particular style or

type of writing.type of writing.

Major GenresMajor Genres•FictionFiction

– Writing that tells about Writing that tells about imaginary people and eventsimaginary people and events

•Non-FictionNon-Fiction– Writing that tells about Writing that tells about

real people and eventsreal people and events

•uses carefully selected words and phrases to create vivid pictures in the

reader’s mind

•lines of poetry (verses) are written in stanzas

•may include patterns of rhyme to capture the reader’s interest

Short StoryShort Story

• A short fictional prose narrative.A short fictional prose narrative.

• A short story’s plot usually consists of A short story’s plot usually consists of these basic elements: the introduction, these basic elements: the introduction, complications, climax, and resolution.complications, climax, and resolution.

• Short stories usually only have one or two Short stories usually only have one or two major characters and one important major characters and one important setting.setting.

Drama/Play

Drama/Play•a cast of characters

•a narrator who gives important information

•parts called acts or scenes•props to help support action•dialogue that tells what the actors say•stage directions in italics

Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction•The setting is

realistic

•The characters speak and act like real people

•The story describes real-life problems and events

•The setting is realistic

•The characters speak and act like real people

•The story describes real-life problems and events

Historical FictionHistorical Fiction• Literature with Literature with

imaginary charactersimaginary characters

• Based on events Based on events related to history related to history

*Parts of *Parts of Little House Little House on the Prairieon the Prairie are are considered considered autobiographicalautobiographical

Science FictionScience Fiction

• Literature based on Literature based on actual or imaginary actual or imaginary developments or developments or discoveries in discoveries in sciencescience

• Often futuristic or Often futuristic or fantasyfantasy

Horror and Horror and MysteryMystery

• Horror is fiction in Horror is fiction in which events evoke which events evoke a feeling of dread in a feeling of dread in both the characters both the characters and the reader.and the reader.

• Mystery is fiction Mystery is fiction dealing with the dealing with the solution of a crime solution of a crime or the unraveling of or the unraveling of secrets.secrets.

•Actions are repeated over and over

•Point out some aspect of human behavior. Some fables teach a lesson about what is important in life, such as fairness, kindness, or cleverness

•Characters are simpler than real people - they may be completely greedy, completely wicked , or very gentle

Fable

•Examples – Aesop’s Fables, Mouse & Lion, Tortoise & the Hare, Fox & the Crow, Hansel & Gretel

MythMyth / / LegendLegend MythMyth / / LegendLegend• A kind of fantasyA kind of fantasy

• A very old story handed A very old story handed down by word of mouthdown by word of mouth

• Explains something Explains something about nature or answers about nature or answers questions about the questions about the meaning of life or what meaning of life or what is good or evilis good or evil

• Examples – Greek Examples – Greek gods/goddesses, gods/goddesses,

Folk TaleFolk Tale• Stories passed on from one person to another by word Stories passed on from one person to another by word

of mouth.of mouth.• Original storyteller is unknown. The authors on folk Original storyteller is unknown. The authors on folk

tale books today are retelling these stories.tale books today are retelling these stories.• They often use language/description that is native to a They often use language/description that is native to a

specific area.specific area.• Characters are sometimes animals that act Characters are sometimes animals that act

and speak like peopleand speak like people• RepetitionRepetition• Use of the number threeUse of the number three• Examples: Brer Rabbit, Cinderella (can Examples: Brer Rabbit, Cinderella (can

also be considered as a fairy tale)also be considered as a fairy tale)

Tall TaleTall Tale

•EExtraordinary personxtraordinary person - the main character is better at - the main character is better at things than an ordinary personthings than an ordinary person

•EExaggeration xaggeration – makes something greater or bigger than it – makes something greater or bigger than it really could bereally could be

•EExplanationxplanation – explains how something came to be – explains how something came to be

• Examples – Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Mike Fink, Swamp Examples – Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Mike Fink, Swamp AngelAngel

Fairy TalesFairy Tales• Often begin with Once upon a time or Long, Often begin with Once upon a time or Long,

long agolong ago Include a good character and a bad (evil) character

Include magic or something enchanted

Involves a problem that is solved and the good people live happily ever after

Setting is a forest or a castle

Examples: Princess & the Pea, Jack & the Beanstalk, Rumpelstiltskin

Non-FictionNon-Fiction

• Books that discuss Books that discuss facts, deal with real or facts, deal with real or historical characters, historical characters, circumstances or circumstances or events.events.

• Examples: how-to Examples: how-to books, science, books, science, sports, drawing, math sports, drawing, math animals,transportationanimals,transportation

EssayEssay

• A short piece of nonfiction prose that A short piece of nonfiction prose that examines a single subject.examines a single subject.

• Most essays can be categorized as either Most essays can be categorized as either personal or formalpersonal or formal

• It not only includes Martin Luther King's It not only includes Martin Luther King's speech and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg speech and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address, but Patrick Henry's Give Me Liberty address, but Patrick Henry's Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, Lou Gehrig's Luckiest or Give Me Death, Lou Gehrig's Luckiest Man on Earth speech, Ronald Reagan's Tear Man on Earth speech, Ronald Reagan's Tear Down This Wall speech and many more. Down This Wall speech and many more.

BiographyBiography BiographyBiography• NonfictionNonfiction• Story about a real Story about a real

person’s life that is person’s life that is written by another written by another personperson

• Can cover a person’s Can cover a person’s whole life, part of a whole life, part of a person’s life, or a person’s life, or a single incidentsingle incident

• A true account of a A true account of a person’s life based on person’s life based on facts collected by the facts collected by the authorauthor

• Written from the third Written from the third person point of view person point of view (he or she)(he or she)

AutobiographiesAutobiographies

• Autobiographies Autobiographies are where people are where people write about their write about their own life.own life.

Newspapers/MagazinesNewspapers/Magazines

• Newspapers and Newspapers and magazines contain magazines contain articles relating to articles relating to current events, current events, new discoveries, new discoveries, and important and important people.people.

Informational Informational TextsTexts•The function The function

of these texts of these texts is to convey is to convey information.information.

ReferencesReferences

• www.images.google.comwww.images.google.com

• www.microsoftoffice.comwww.microsoftoffice.com