Genres

We're going to review the different types of literary genres.

What is Genre?

A major category or particular type of literature

Biography (Non-Fiction)

The story of a real person's life written by another person.

*Remember bio=life and graph=write

Autobiography (Non-Fiction)

The story of a real person's life written by that person.

*Remember auto=self bio=life and graph=write

Non-Fiction

Informational / Expository (Non-Fiction)

A text that explains a topic using facts. It often contains diagrams, charts, graphs and photographs with captions.

Non-Fiction

Realistic Fiction

A story that uses fictional (made-up) characters and is set in present time. The events in the book did not happen but they could.

Science Fiction

A story that uses fictional (made-up) characters, and is often set in the future.

It can use elements of science and technology. (Think of robots, space, and futuristic technology).

Fantasy

A story that includes events that could NEVER happen in real life.

It may include characters that could not really exist.

It may have magic and talking animals.

Historical Fiction

A story that takes place in the past during a specific time period.

Often the setting is real but the characters are made up.

Mystery

A story about a puzzling event that is usually not solved until the end of the story.

It is usually suspenseful, and the characters uncover clues throughout the story.

Poetry

Verse written to create a response of thought and feeling in the reader.

It often uses rhyme and rhythm (but it does not have to include those elements).

Traditional Literature also known as folk tales

Fictional (made-up stories) from long ago. They include: myths, fables, legends, tall tales, folk tales, and fairy tales.

Memoir /Personal Narrative (Non-Fiction)

A true story about a portion of a person's life or event in a person's life written by that person.

Informational / Expository (Non-Fiction)

True stories and/or information.​