1. Literary Genres

2. How do I identify a genre by its characteristics?
Essential Question
How do I identify a genre by its characteristics?

3. What is a literary genre?
A genre is a particular style or type of writing.

4. Major Genres Fiction Non-Fiction
Writing that tells about imaginary people and events
Non-Fiction
Writing that tells about real people and events

5. uses figurative language to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind
Poetry
Fiction AND Non-fiction
lines of poetry (verses) are written in stanzas
uses figurative language to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind

6. Historical Fiction Fiction
Stories centered around the basis of a partially historical event
A novel set in a historical time period

7. Realistic Fiction Fiction The setting is realistic
The characters speak and act like real people
The story describes real-life problems and events

8. Fable Fiction Actions are repeated over and over
Some fables teach a lesson about what is important in life, such as fairness, kindness, or cleverness

9. Folk Tale
Fiction
Tells a fictional story to explain an animals behavior

10. Tall Tale
Fiction
Extraordinary person - the main character is better at things than an ordinary person
Exaggeration – makes something greater or bigger than it really could be
Explanation – explains how something came to be

11. Science Fiction Fiction
Stories that often tell about science and technology in the future
Setting:
Future
Space
Different universe/world

12. MYSTERY Fiction/Non-Fiction Solving a puzzling event Solving a crime
Centered around a person who investigates.

13. FANTASY / FAIRY TALES Fiction Talking animals Magical powers
Mythical Creatures

14. Biography
Nonfiction
Story about a real person’s life that is written by another person
Can cover a person’s whole life, part of a person’s life, or a single incident
A true account of a person’s life based on facts collected by the author
Written from the third person point of view (he or she)

15. Auto-Biography/Memoir
Non-Fiction
A story YOU write about YOURSELF or YOUR life story.

16. Information/Resource
Non-Fiction
A book you use to research facts or information.