1. Genres and Subgenres
Classifying Stories

2. Genres and Subgenres Texts can be separated into groups
called genres and subgenres.
Text
Genre
Subgenre
Banana
is a
Food
is a
Fruit
Harry Potter
Book is
Fiction is
Fantasy

3. Genres Fiction: creative or imaginative writing.
Nonfiction: writing that is true or factual.
Folklore: stories once passed down orally.
*Usually will say “retold by” or “adapted by”
Dramas: plays or scripts.
Poetry: writing concerned with the beauty of language.
We will focus on the first three.

4. Fiction Drama Folklore Poetry
Nonfiction
Folklore
Poetry
Realistic
Fiction
Informational
Writing
Comedy
Fairy Tale
Legend
Historical
Fiction
Tragedy
Persuasive
Writing
Tall Tale
Science
Fiction
Biography
Myth
Fantasy
Autobiography
Fable

5. Fiction Subgenres Fiction Fantasy Realistic Fiction Science Fiction
Historical
Fiction

6. Realistic Fiction: stories that could be true, but aren’t.
Science Fiction: has aliens, advanced technology, or is set in the future.
Historical Fiction: a made up story set around a real event or person from history.
Fantasy: has monsters, magic, or super powers.

7. Nonfiction Subgenres Nonfiction Informational Writing Persuasive
Biography
Autobiography

8. Informational Writing: provides facts or information.
Autobiography: one’s life story written by oneself.
Auto = Self Bio = Life Graphy= Writing
Biography: one’s life story written by someone else.
Persuasive Writing: meant to influence the reader.

9. Folklore Subgenres
Folklore
Fable
Fairy Tale
Tall Tale
Legend
Myth

10. Fable: short story with talking animals & a moral.
Moral: lesson of the story (clearly stated).
Myth: has gods & goddesses; may account for the creation of something.
Tall Tale: Funny story set in the Wild West; main character’s size or skill exaggerated.
Fairy Tale: has magic and/or talking animals.
Legend: a story that might be true, but is exaggerated.
Usually says “Retold by” or “Adapted by”

11. Fairytales & Fantasies
Both have monsters, magic, or talking animals.
What’s the difference?
Fairytales are part of the oral tradition.
Usually it will say “retold by” or “adapted by.”
Fairytales often start “Once Upon a Time.”

12. Tips for Identifying Find the main genre first
Look for details that reveal subgenre

13. 1 The Most Exciting Moment of My Life by Mr. Morton
Mr. Morton, in a five paragraph narrative, tells the true story of the most exciting moment in his life: when he went to a reading workshop near downtown Chicago.
The Most Exciting Moment of My is an example of . . .

14. 2 The Most Exciting Moment of My is an example of . . . Nonfiction
Autobiography

15. 3 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by unknown
Sir Gawain is King Arthur's nephew, and this is the story of how Gawain met a challenge from a giant knight dressed in all green armor. The story is very serious and is told as though it was true; many people believe that King Arthur was a real person, but this story is probably not true. If it were true, it has been greatly exaggerated.

16. 4
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an example of . . .
Folklore
Legend

17. 5 U.S. History by Mortini Publishing Group
This textbook tells the history of America, from the Revolutionary War to the Iraq War.
This is an example of . . .

18. 6
Nonfiction
Informational

19. 7 The Rising by Lindsay Logan
When Sheila moves to a new school in California, she has some trouble fitting in with the other kids. She cannot afford the expensive clothing that the other kids wear and she does not have the newest cell phone, but she does have a good heart. Will a chance run-in with a celebrity whom Sheila admires give Sheila the confidence she needs to adapt to her new environment.

20. 8
The Rising is an example of . . .
Fiction
Realistic

21. 9 “If a Tree Falls” adapted by Stan Tanner
This is the very short story of a buck that was admiring his horns in the water’s reflection and feeling bad about his skinny legs. When a hunter tries to kill him, his big horns get stuck in some tree branches, but his skinny legs manage to pull him free. The moral is that what is truly valuable is often unappreciated.
This is an example of. . .

22. 10
Folklore
Fable