NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. LITERARY GENRES TEDU 220 By: Coralis J. Soto April 2013

Index  Literary Genre Definition Literary Genre Definition  Categories Categories  Major Forms of Literature Major Forms of Literature  Common Literary Genres Common Literary Genres  Exercises Exercises Click on the Home Icon to Get to get back to the Index

Introduction  The following module will serve as an introduction or review to the most common genres in literature. It will help and teach the student to correctly identify each of them and compare one to each other. It includes images, additional information and exercises.

Literary Genres  In terms of literature, each form of writing is divided by genres in order to identify and differentiate them between each other. A genre will include several works of literature that share characteristics between them.

Literary Genres  First of all, every form of writing is divided in two categories: Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Non-Fiction  Non-Fiction will be set and talk about events that actually occurred, for example: Biography Newspaper Documentary

Fiction  A work of fiction will be a story that has been made up by the author. None of the events occurred in real life and they have been product of their imagination.  More Information: rl/ll/litrlgenres.asp m

Major Forms of Literature

Novel  A novel is a long narrative prose that describes stories and their events.

Poem  A poem is a rhythmical composition written for creating a reaction of feelings in the reader.

Drama  A drama is a fiction commonly represented in performance.

Short Story  Brief work of literature usually written in narrative prose.

Common Literary Genres

Fairy Tale  Stories about magical creatures. Most common is children books.  “Cinderella”  “The Little Mermaid”

Fairy Tale

Fable  Demonstrates useful truth and lesson. Usually presents animals as characters.  “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”

Fable Hennessy/

Fantasy  Fiction with strange or unreal characters and/or settings.  The Chronicles of Narnia

Fantasy

Folklore  Stories that have been passed through generations.  ”Beowulf”

Folklore

Historical Fiction  Story of fictional characters in a setting that actually occurred.  “The Other Boleyn Girl”

Historical Fiction

Horror  Fiction that evokes feelings of dread in the reader and the characters.  “Frankenstein:  H.P. Lovecraft Stories

Horror frankenstein.html

Humor  Fiction that contains fun and excitement. There can be humor in all genres though.  “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid”

Humor kid/images/ /title/greg-photo

Legend  Fiction based on folk but that contains imaginative material.  “Atlantis”

Legend

Mystery  Fiction which plot consists on the solution of a crime or unveiling secrets.  Agatha Cristie’s  Nancy Drew Stories  The Hardy Boys

Mystery

Poem  Writing with imagery with the purpose of evoking an emotional response.  “The Raven”  Sonet Number 18

Poem

Science Fiction  Fiction that contains elements of science. It is usually set in the future or in other planets.  “The Time Machine”

Science Fiction

Short Story  A fiction so short it does not contains sub-plots.  “Stone Soup”

Short Story

Drama  Conflict and emotion is expressed through dialog and action. It is usually represented on stage.  “Romeo and Juliet”  “Othello”

Drama

Exercises

Exercise 1  In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein a scientist attempt to create life turned wrong. Instead a disfigured, frightful creature was born. Through the plot many dreadful and scary events will occur. Which category does this novel fit into?  A) Sci-Fi A) Sci-Fi  B) Folk B) Folk  C) Horror C) Horror  D) Fable D) Fable

Exercise 1 Wrong: Remember, science fiction is defined as a plot where technological or/and futuristic subjects are developed. Try Again

Exercise 1 Wrong Remember, a folk story is the one that has been passed from generations in a culture. Try Again

Exercise 1 Correct! Frankenstein is a novel of horror due to the dreadful events that occur through the story. Next

Exercise 1 Wrong Remember, a fable is a story that teaches a lesson. It is mainly represented with talking animals as characters. Try Again

Exercise 2  A newspaper includes information on historical events. Where would it fit into?  A) Fiction A) Fiction  B) Non-Fiction B) Non-Fiction

Exercise 2 Wrong Remember, fiction means something it’s not real. Try Again

Exercise 2 Correct! The newspaper provides us with factual information. Next

Exercise 3  A story where a talking animal learns and teach a life lesson would be called a:  A) Mystery A) Mystery  B) Short Story B) Short Story  C) Fable C) Fable  D) Drama D) Drama

Exercise 3 Wrong Remember, in a mystery, a crime must be solved. Try Again

Exercise 3 Wrong Remember, a story with a lesson to teach has it’s own genre. Try Again

Exercise 3 Correct! A short story that teaches a lesson it’s called a fable. Next

Exercise 3 Wrong Remember, a drama is a performed story. Try Again

Exercise 4  A children’s story where a fairy Godmother or a witch will use its powers to help or harm the hero/heroin would be:  A) Mystery A) Mystery  B) Fable B) Fable  C) Fairy Tale C) Fairy Tale  D) Horror D) Horror

Exercise 4 Wrong Remember, in a mystery, a crime must be solved Try Again

Exercise 4 Wrong Remember, a fable is defined as a story that is intended to teach a lesson. Try Again

Exercise 4 Correct! It is a Fairy Tale. Next

Exercise 4 Wrong Remember, a Horror story would be that which is intended to create fear or dread in the reader. Try Again

Exercise 5  Which book category would this summary fill into? “Monica Brown has disappeared leaving only a strange picture under the tree she was last seen at. Her cousins start finding bizarre messages that lead them to finding clues to Monica’s whereabouts. Will they ever find Monica? Or will they have the same fate?  A) Drama A) Drama  B) Fable B) Fable  C) Mystery C) Mystery  D) Fairy Tale D) Fairy Tale

Exercise 5 Wrong Remember, a drama is a performed story. Try Again

Exercise 5 Wrong Remember, a fable is defined as a story that is intended to teach a lesson. Try Again

Exercise 5 Correct! That type of story would be classified as a Mystery. Next

Exercise 5 Wrong Remember, a Fantasy is that which includes characters and settings that are non realistic. Try Again

Exercise 6  Shakespeare’s most famous work “Romeo and Juliet” is about a young couple’s romance with a tragic ending. It has been performed on stage several times. What genre would it be?  A) Drama A) Drama  B) Sci-Fi B) Sci-Fi  C) Horror C) Horror  D) Fantasy D) Fantasy

Exercise 6 Correct! A drama is a performed story. Next

Exercise 6 Wrong Remember, Sci-Fi is a story that includes technological and futuristic settings. Try Again

Exercise 6 Wrong Remember, a Horror story would be that which is intended to create fear or dread in the reader. Try Again

Exercise 6 Wrong Remember, a Fantasy is that which includes characters and settings that are non realistic. Try Again

Exercise 7  Edgar Allan Poe’s writings will send shivers down your spine. They will include fearful passages and eerie settings. His poems and stories would be:  A) Humor A) Humor  B) Horror B) Horror  C) Fantasy C) Fantasy  D) Fable D) Fable

Exercise 7 Wrong Remember, a humor themed literary work will tell jokes and make you laugh. Try Again

Exercise 7 Correct! Next

Exercise 7 Wrong Remember, a fantasy story is filled with unrealistic, fantastic (mostly magical) characters and settings. Try Again

Exercise 7 Wrong Remember, a fable is defined as a story that is intended to teach a lesson. Try Again

Exercise 8  If I wanted to read a book that would mainly make me laugh. Which category should I look under?  A) Mystery A) Mystery  B) Drama B) Drama  C) Humor C) Humor  D) Horror D) Horror

Exercise 8 Wrong Remember, in a mystery, a crime must be solved Try Again

Exercise 8 Wrong Remember, a drama is a performed story. Try Again

Exercise 8 Correct! Next

Exercise 8 Wrong Remember, a Horror story would be that which is intended to create fear or dread in the reader. Try Again

Exercise 9  Michelle is in the mood to read a good fiction story, but she doesn’t have enough time to read a full novel. What should she look for?  A) Newspaper A) Newspaper  B) Short Story B) Short Story

Exercise 9 Wrong Remember, the newspaper inform us with factual events. Try Again

Exercise 9 Correct! Next

Exercise 10  A short literary work written in rhythmical composition and which includes many metaphors and imagery would most likely be a:  A) Poem A) Poem  B) Novel B) Novel

Exercise 10 Correct!

Exercise 10 Wrong Try Again

More Information Literary Genres:   genres] genres  urathismanoglu.pdf urathismanoglu.pdf  eristicsChart.pdf eristicsChart.pdf  genre/chandler_genre_theory.pdf genre/chandler_genre_theory.pdf For reading books in different genres:  

References   

Coralis Soto  My name is Coralis Soto.  I am currently studying Secondary English Education at Universidad Central de Bayamón.  This module was built as an assignment for Educational Technology class.