FORMS OF FICTION

All categories of books or stories can be called either fiction or non-fiction.

Fiction• a made up

story • can tell about

things that could happen

• is read for fun • characters may

be like real people or imaginary

Non-Fiction• has facts that

can be checked and proven

• the author is an expert on this information

• it IS TRUE!

Genres and literature

When you speak about genre and literature, genre means a

category, or kind of story.

Fictional Writing…• Many genres:– Adventure, science fiction, romance,

mystery, etc.

• Originally fiction followed a typical “plot formula” – Ex: happy ending, good guy wins

• Today… people sometimes make it less unpredictable

Folk Tales or “Folklore”

• Folk tales are stories that have been passed down over the years by word of mouth. Many different cultures have folk tales with similar themes, motifs, and character types. They typically are anonymous (no known author).

Folk Tales or “Folklore”

• Examples include: – The Nightingale– The Seventh Sister–How the Snake Got Poison– Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves–He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit

• Fairy tales, fables, tall tales, and myths are different types of folk tales.

Fables:

• Stories that are meant to teach a theme (moral)

• Told by people all over the world

• Often has animals who are personified (can talk & act like people)

• Animal characters usually represent personality types (greedy, vain, gullible, sly tricksters)

Fables:• Told by people all over the world• Aesop = One of the most famous Western

world fable tellers – his stories are still being read 2,600 years later

• Ex: –Tortoise & the Hare–The Boy Who Cried Wolf–Ant and the Grasshopper–Lion and the Mouse–Hare and the Hound

Fairy Tales:• Also passed down over the years by word of

mouth• Usually have obvious fictional details - carpets

fly, dragons, genies, fairy princesses, magic• Usually have a quest (problem to be solved)• Use number 3 and other repetitions• How are Fairy Tales different from Folk

Tales? Fairy tales are a subgenre of folk tales and almost always involve some element of magic and good triumphing over evil.   A good rule of thumb: if there's a fairy in the story, it's a fairy tale. 

Fairy Tales:

• Sometimes there’s a lesson• Tend to travel from one culture to another• Different cultures may have the same

general story line …even though they’re thousands of miles apart

• Ex: – Cinderella - story is found in China, West Africa,

Korea, Egypt, U.S., etc.– Rumplestiltskin– Princess and the Pea– The Frog Prince– Rapunzel

Myths:

• Stories about gods and heroes that people told to give human shape to the words around them

• Answer basic questions such as: –Where does fire come from?–What makes seasons change?– How should we live?–What is right/wrong?

Myths continued…• Often connected to a

culture’s religious beliefs & values• Passed down orally• Some say scientific evidence has replaced myths

(explains things in nature)

• Monsters threaten hero• Metamorphoses take place• Ex:

• Baucis and Philemon• Medusa’s Head– Myth of Hercules– Myth of Pandora's Box– Myth of Zeus

Legends:• Often connected to historical events• Traditionally passed down by word of

mouth – so some have become exaggerated over

time• Often have superhuman heroes• very villainous enemies,• victories are more fantastic than reality

• Ex: – The legend of Troy– Davy Crockett’s story– The legend of King Arthur, Robin Hood,

Blackbeard…

The Three Sizes of modern Fiction

NOVEL

NOVELL

A

SHORT STORY

SHORT STORY:

• a story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less

elaborate than a novel.• Shorter than a “novella”• Ex: – “All American Slurp”– “The Bracelet”– “The Gift of the Magi”– “Just Once”– “All Summer in a Day”

Novella:

• A story that is not necessarily meant to be read in one sitting

• Shorter than a “novel”• Longer than a “short story”

• Ex: – The Gold Cadillac– The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde– The Time Machine– The Old Man and the Sea– A Christmas Carol– Animal Farm

Novel:

• a fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing

character and action with some degree of realism.

• Ex: – The Hunger Games– The Cay– Maroo of the Winter Caves– Harry Potter

• Divergent• A Tale of Two

Cities• Bridge to

Terebithia• The Great

Gatsby