Genre Literary categories

Why genre? Among other things, the Manitoba Grade 7 English curriculum expects you to do the following things in Grade 7: Experience texts from a variety of forms and genres [such as journals, nature programs, letters, fantasy...] and cultural traditions; discuss likes and dislikes. Explain preferences for particular forms and genres of oral, literary, and media texts.

What is “genre?” We use the word “genre” to describe different categories within a form of art. Music: rock and roll, pop, jazz, classical Visual art: oil, watercolour, expressionist, pop art. Film: action, chick flick, arthouse, drama.

Why do we bother to define or consider genre? Genre gives certain hints to the reader, viewer, or listener so they understand the idea’s context. It makes it so the writer can explain a little less. If the writer is a journalist for a newspaper, for example, they have certain rules to follow about how they lay out their articles. If you don’t fit the genre of newspaper articles, people won’t want to read it. They won’t be reading it from the right perspective.

What do we take into account when we consider genre? A genre might have common settings between stories, common plotlines, common writing styles, common langauge.

We will consider some of the aspects that fit certain genres. You will be creating a poster based on one of the genres when we are finished. We will start with fiction genres, and then go through some of the non-fiction genres.

Fiction genres

Myth Traditional stories that often describe the origins of things on earth. How did man get fire? How did the Earth come into existence? Who runs the world? Why are things good or bad? They often start as a story told by word of mouth. They are eventually written down. “Sedna,” from Sightlines 7, is a myth.

Folk Tale / Folklore Traditional stories that are passed orally from generation to generation. They often have a moral of some sort. Folk tale examples: “Little Red Riding Hood” “Peter and the Wolf” ----ddd

Fairy Tale Fairy tales are a type of folktale with magical elements. They might have spells, fairies, djinns, or witches who live alongside humans (often royalty). Fairy tale example: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” “Sleeping Beauty” dd

Fantasy Fantasy stories can have a wide variety of fantastic elements: fairies, magic, curses, impossible worlds. Fantasy stories are often created for writing: they are not passed on orally like fairy tales. Fantasy imagines a recognizable world with some different rules. Fantasy examples: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter series Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting. ddd

Science Fiction Science fiction is a type of fantasy where new technology changes reality as we know it. Science fiction imagines a reality where a new technology changes humans’ lifestyles: space travel, special genetic modifications, artificial intelligence, etc. Science Fiction examples: Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy. Robert A. Heinlen’s Starship Troopers Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. ddd

Historical fiction Historical fiction imagines life in a specific period in the past. For example, the story might take place 100 years ago, or 2000 years ago, or even 2 years ago. “Contemporary fiction” takes place today, or in the recent past. Examples of historical fiction: Mario Puzo’s The Godfather. f

Mystery Mystery stories provide a problem and give small clues so the reader can try to solve the problem. The clues and the solution are revealed at the end. Examples of mystery stories: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile. The Sherlock Holmes series. G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown series. f

Suspense Thriller Suspense thrillers depend on building suspense. They put their characters into scary situations and depend on the characters accomplishing tasks with very little time. They depend on “pathetic irony,” where the reader knows things that the characters in the story do not know. Suspense Thriller examples may include: Stephen King’s The Shining. dd

Western Western stories usually take place in “The Old West,” in America during the 1800s. They can also take place anywhere or any time when the law has little control over an area. They depend on the tension between the government-based law and the rules people make with one another. Western examples may include: dd

Romance Romance stories describe romantic relationships. They can be very innocent or, well, not innocent. Romance examples may include: The Notebook. Ddd

Comedy Comedy stories depend on making people laugh. People rarely die in these stories and they attempt to have a lighthearted tone. Examples of comedy stories: Stephen Leacock’s Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town. s

Young adult reader Young adult readers are directed at young adults. Usually in a series format. Examples of young adult readers may include: Dd dd

Satire Satire uses ridicule and humour to make fun of serious things. An example of satire might be: George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether satire is fiction or non-fiction.

Non-Fiction genres

News articles News articles discuss current events. They are written in the third person. They can be published in newspapers, magazines, or online. They are meant to go out of date. They include editorials, travel articles, and reviews of events.

Essays Essays try to explain an idea. They can be short or they can be as long as a book. They can have almost any topic: science, ethics, the world, politics. Examples of essays may include: Cullen Murphy’s “To Be In their Bonnets.” Margaret Somerville’s “The Ethical Canary” dd

Philosophy Philosophy tries to explain the many roots of an idea. It is often concerned with government, good living, or ideals for life.

History History books try to explain an event in the past. They try to use evidence to explain what happened. History examples might include: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. dd

Biography and autobiography Autobiography is written about yourself. Biography is written about somebody else. They take interesting people and try to explain the reasons why they made the decisions they did.

Self-improvement These books attempt to help people deal with certain issues they may have in their lives. They are often framed around a question.

Poetry and Art These books are meant to display an artists’ ability to work with their art form.

Summary

Genres help readers… Make accurate predictions Understand the general context Use their reading choices adequately.