How do I identify a

genre by its characteristic

s?

What is a literary genre?

A genre is a particular style or

type of writing.

Major Genres• Fiction–Writing that tells about

imaginary people and events

•Non-FictionNon-Fiction– Writing that tells about Writing that tells about

real people and eventsreal people and events

•uses figurative language to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind

•Fiction AND Non-fiction

•lines of poetry (verses) are written in stanzas

Historical Fiction

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

Realistic

Fiction

Realistic

Fiction•Fiction

•The setting is realistic

•The characters speak and act like real people

•The story describes real-life problems and events

•Fiction

•The setting is realistic

•The characters speak and act like real people

•The story describes real-life problems and events

•Actions are repeated over and over

•Some fables teach a lesson about what is important in life, such as fairness, kindness, or cleverness

•Fiction Fable

Folk Tale• Fiction

• Tells a fictional story to explain an animals behavior

Tall TaleTall 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

Science Fiction Science Fiction• FictionStories that often tell

about science and technology in the future

Setting: • Future• Space• Different universe/world

MYSTERY

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

FANTASY / FAIRY TALES

•Fiction•Talking animals•Magical powers•Mythical Creatures

Biography 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)

Auto-Biography/Memoir

• Non-Fiction• A story YOU write about YOURSELF or YOUR

life story.

Information/Resource

• Non-Fiction• A book you use to research facts or

information.