GENRE: A DISTINCTIVE

CATEGORY OF LITERARY
COMPOSITION
Literature Genre: marked by distinctive style, form
and content. One is just right for YOU!
Are You for Real?
NON-FICTION: real, factual, deals with actual
people, places, and events




FICTION: unreal, not true, not factual, a made
up story
Literature
We classify literary works into three
categories:
Short stories
Can be read in one sitting, focuses on single
event, and a few characters
Novels
Long, complex characters & plots
Novellas
Longer than a short story & shorter than a
novel

Biography
Story of a real persons life
Form of nonfiction (true)
Bios means life
Graphe means to write
Author must do research
by interviewing the
subject or those who knew
the subject

Autobiography
Form of nonfiction (true)
Story of a real persons life
Auto means self
Bios means life
Graphe means to write
Might also be called a memoir
Written by the person the story
is about
Author does not need to do
research
Author shares how he/she feels
and what he/she thinks
Realistic Fiction
Form of fiction (not true)
Accurately reflects life as it
could be lived today
Everything in the story could
happen to real people living
in our natural physical world
The characters have normal
human characteristics
Story may be set in real
places, but the story is NOT
based on history
Historical Fiction
Form of fiction (not true)
Based on historical events
Authentic settings
Characters portrayed in
realistic manner
Some characters may be
actual people from history,
but the story is fictional
Artistic mix of fiction and
historical fact
Science Fiction
Form of fiction (not true)
Contains some sort of scientific
element, such as
Outer space
Medicine
Technology
Within the realm of possibility
Characters have some believable
traits/qualities
Dystopian Novels: a society
characterized by poverty, squalor
or oppression (opposite of utopia)
Fantasy
Form of fiction (not true)
Contains one or more of the following:
supernatural occurrences
characters with magical powers
things with magical powers
animals with human characteristics
real people in fantastic places
fantastic creatures or characters in real situations
Invented languages
Good vs. evil (supernatural/evil forces)
Story written in a series of books/ volumes
Coming- of- age themes
Urban Fantasy: The novel takes place in a city and is
usually set in modern times.

Mystery
Form of fiction (not true)
Story revolves around a
puzzle/problem
Characters deal with the solution to
a puzzle/problem, such as
finding a missing item/person
unraveling a secret
rationalize an event that is not
explained
Contains clues/hints that help the
characters and readers solve the
puzzle/problem
Classics
Form of fiction (not true)
Timelessness: enjoyed by readers
from generation to generation
Deals with universal themes and
experiences that relate to readers,
such as:
love conquers all
good vs. evil
rags to riches
Communicates ideas across
cultures
Unforgettable characters
Free on Kindle!!!
Folktales/
Traditional Tales
Form of fiction (not true)
Story that teaches a lesson
Contain the beliefs and customs
of a region or country
Original story is modified to
make it more interesting or more
humorous
Present larger-than-life
characters and very unusual
happenings
Poetry
Shortened form of
writing
Contains figurative
language similes,
metaphors,
personification
Authors expression
of feelings, opinions
May follow a
form/structure but
does not have to