Genres in Fiction Cheryl Youse Colquitt County High School

Narrative writing tells a story or part of a story Fiction means the story is NOT true Genre means a type or style of writing

Fantasy Has elements that are not Has elements that are not realistic: realistic: 1. Talking animals 2. Magical powers 3. Mythical beings

Science Fiction Like fantasy, but usually include MACHINES Like fantasy, but usually include MACHINES Partly true scientific theories Partly true scientific theories Settings: space, the future, a different world, universe Settings: space, the future, a different world, universe

FOLK TALES or FOLKLORE Fictional stories handed down by retelling Fictional stories handed down by retelling No known author No known author “Once upon a time…” “Once upon a time…” Repetition Repetition Transformations Transformations Trickery or magic Trickery or magic

Fairy Tales Magic Magic Enchantment Enchantment Royalty Royalty Supernatural Supernatural Original or have named authors Original or have named authors Rapunzel

Fables Very short stories with a moral or lesson Very short stories with a moral or lesson Characters are animals that act like human Characters are animals that act like human They do not change but do learn They do not change but do learn Contains amoral or lesson to learn Contains amoral or lesson to learn

Myths Stories told as if they were fact Stories told as if they were fact Usually involve gods, goddesses, supernatural powers Usually involve gods, goddesses, supernatural powers Happened a long time ago Happened a long time ago Often deal with creation of the world Often deal with creation of the world

Legends Set in historic, less- remote past Set in historic, less- remote past Based on real life hero and his/her deeds Based on real life hero and his/her deeds Not generally religious Not generally religious Humans, not gods, are main characters Humans, not gods, are main characters

Historical Fiction Real person with imagined accounts of what happened Real person with imagined accounts of what happened Real event with imaginary person Real event with imaginary person

Realistic Fiction Stories that take place in here and now Stories that take place in here and now Characters are involved in events that could happen Characters are involved in events that could happen

Mystery Has: Has: 1. Strangeness 2. Solving a puzzle 3. Solving a crime 4. Centered around a person who investigates problems 5. Centered around person whose job is to get secret information