Identifying various of genres & subgenres of fiction What are the different types of literary genres and how can I identify them? A genre is a book category defined by style, content, and form. Drama Poetry Fiction Nonfiction Folk Tales Drama Poetry Fiction Nonfiction Definition A suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until the end of the story Purpose Entertain Characteristics  Detectives and solution of crime or puzzling event  Characters may be suspects  Evidence and clues are present, but sometimes hidden  Problem to be solved  Red herring Suspense, Cliffhangers, Foreshadowing often a Series Examples Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Goosebumps, Encyclopedia Brown, Young James Bond, The Egypt Game, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, Theodore Boone Definition Stories that contain elements of science that may one day may become possible but are not at the time of writing. Purpose Entertain and Inform Characteristics Stresses the scientific laws and technological inventions Stresses the interaction of humans with the science In one approach the story usually takes place in outer space where the technology of the future is predicted. In the other approach future societies are portrayed, usually on earth, with or without the presence of aliens. Themes frequently deal with good or evil, often involving technology. Science Fantasy uses science “to explain the existence of the world and magic is used thereafter. Examples 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, City of Ember, The Roar Definition Purpose Characteristics Examples Story often centered around a historic event in an identifiable setting with authentic details about the period of history. Entertain/Inform about that time period Includes historical facts or is based on historical events with accurate details about the setting, problems, solution, way of life, and time period. Only some people, places, and events are true Story elements are realistic Usually 30 years+ Dear America series, Johnny Tremain, Hattie Big Sky, Watson’s Go to Birmingham, Midwife’s Apprentice, Bud Not Buddy, Storm Warriors Takes place during the Great Depression which is an important historical event But was written in 1999 Making it historical fiction. Was written as RF in 1967! 2016 1967 ------49 years ago! This was written as Contemporary Realistic Fiction . . . In 1950—so is it historical or is it realistic fiction? Definition Imaginative stories with unrealistic or unworldly elements Purpose Entertain Characteristics Include events that could NEVER happen Talking animals, extraordinary worlds, magic Focus on good vs. evil Anthropomorphism (attribution of human traits emotions & intentions non-humans) Action and fast moving plot Solutions to problems outside of the possible. Examples Harry Potter, Charlotte’s Web, Alice in Wonderland, Beowulf, Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles) First published in 1932. We think about this as Historical Fiction today— but the intent when she wrote it was Realistic Fiction about her life which spanned from 1867-1957. Definition Purpose Characteristics Imaginative stories quest stories with unrealistic or unworldly elements in a created world or imaginary kingdom. Entertain An imaginary world (usually an entirely imaginary world, but can be a parallel world or a world-within-our-world) A battle of good versus evil or other epic theme, with terrible consequences to society or world if the hero fails Multi-volume works with a complicated plot, a large cast of characters and wide timeframe Magic Non-human races such as elves and dwarves and/or magical creatures such as dragons and unicorns and/or monsters such as orcs and trolls Medieval technology and feudal structures Examples LOR Tolkien, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia 3 varieties of settings for these quests: a world separate from our world, one where our world doesn’t even exist; LOR a secondary world that is reached from our world through a portal; Chronicles of Narnia or, a secondary world within our own world. Harry Potter series is a contemporary example of the “world within a world” type of high fantasy. Definition Stories that are set in the real world Purpose Entertainment Characteristics A contemporary story that includes events that could really happen, but didn’t. Or characters who are like your friends—but made up and acting out similar things in their day that you do—school, sports, birthdays . . . Examples Double Fudge, Ramona Quimby, Hoot, Hatchet, Frindle, Last Holiday Concert Definition Stories with a moral lesson Purpose Inform, entertain, Characteristics Anthropomorphism greedy goat, cunning fox, smart owl, etc. Minimal number of characters Simple story beginning, problem, solution Short with a clear lesson The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Tortoise and the Hare, any of Aesop’s Fables Examples Definition Tales of magic and the supernatural Purpose Instruct, entertain, Fairy Tales usually have specific language “Once upon a time,” “Long, long ago,” “Happily ever after.” Magic powers, beings or items Royalty Numbers 3 and 7 Handed down from the oral tradition Many variations and lessons or themes about human character clear good and evil Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Characteristics Examples Definition Purpose Tales of magic and the supernatural or human condition-originally written as fairy tales. Instruct, entertain, Characteristics Fairy Tales usually have specific language “Once upon a time,” “Long, long ago,” “Happily ever after.” Magic powers, beings or items Royalty Numbers 3 and 7 Handed down from the oral tradition Many variations and lessons or themes about human character clear good and evil Examples Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid Definition Short tale that teaches a moral lesson Purpose Instruct, entertain, Characteristics Folk Tales come out of an oral tradition of a people and take on the characteristics and superstitions of the time and place in which they are told. Folk tales speak to universal and timeless themes, and help folks make sense of their existence or the world in which they live. Narrative story handed down within a culture. Stories were created by adults for the entertainment of other adults. Stories frequently involve trickery. • “Folktales are a legacy from anonymous artists of the past.” (Arbuthnot) Examples Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears Definition Short tale that teaches a moral lesson Purpose Instruct, entertain, Types of Folk Tales Beast Tales: Animals talk and act like humans Cumulative Tales: sequentially repeat actions until a climax is reached—Little Old Lady Tales House that Jack Built Noodlehead Stories: humorous and absurd happenings Pourquoi “Why” stories that explain how animals, plants and humans came to be created and why they have the characteristics they do. Examples Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears Anansi, The House that Jack Built Definition Longer tale with some historical truth Purpose Instruct, entertain a legend is a traditional tale or group of tales told about a specific person or place. Characteristics Legends are generally accepted as based on fact. The word "legend" originally pertained to a tale about a saint; but today historical characters often have their own legends, as do legendary creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster Examples The Trojan War, King Arthur Definition Longer tale explaining nature of the world Purpose Instruct, entertain, Characteristics Explain science and religion of ancient peoples with supernatural elements to explain the nature of the gods and demons. Explained phenomena that would have been scary to people such as lightening— Zeus and his lightening bolts Poseidon and the waves Examples Greek and Roman Myths, Norse Myths, Definition Purpose Tale often based in part on fact but include incredible exaggerations. entertainment Characteristics American tall tales center on the development of the West and are said to include elements of history, myth and fact. Examples Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan Genre Poetry Definition It takes the sound of language and arranges it in beautiful forms. Instruct, entertain, Purpose Characteristics Multiple forms including: cinquain, diamonte, concrete, free verse, limerick, haiku, lyrical, ballad narrative, nursery rhyme and more! Examples If I Were in Charge of the World, Robert Frost’s Poetry for Children Genre Informational Definition non-fiction text Purpose to gain knowledge Characteristics  Includes facts and events that really happened Examples One Thing Leads to Another, Titanic Lost and Found Genre Definition Purpose Biography Usually published in the form of a book or essay To state true information Characteristics  Tells the true story of someone’s life Examples Jackie Robinson, Amelia Earhart Genre Definition Reference A book or passage to which one is directed Purpose Use or resource for purposes of information Characteristics  Used for looking up information and facts Examples Webster’s Dictionary, an atlas, Roget’s Thesaurus, Encyclopedia Britannica