Exploration of types of stories

Modern fantasy Realistic Fiction Non Fiction Biography/ Autobiography - Folktales (fables/legends/Myt hology/tall tales

Fantasy
Stories with elements that violate the natural, physical laws of our known world. Traditional fantasy
Oral tradition (myths, legends, folk stories, tall tales, etc.)

Modern fantasy
Written. Stories where we know the author (literary fairy tales, fantasy novels, fantasy picture books, etc.)

Some categories
Talking Animals: The fact that animals can talk is the main difference from reality. Toys and objects that come alive Tiny humans: people are small. Things happen in miniature. Imaginary worlds: Sometimes people cross between worlds and sometimes the whole story is in an imaginary world. Magical powers: People (or one person) can do magic Supernatural tales: sometimes spooky Time-warp fantasies: Time travel or somehow crossing time High fantasy: Clear battle between good and evil

Fantasy isnt nonsense

Nonsense Unconventional Fantasy
It contradicts rules of It is unusual. Not Not possible in the logic. It doesnt make normal. This may be world as we know it. logical sense. odd or strange, but it But it follows rules may still be within the limits of It can make fun of reasonable. the fantasy world the conventional author has created. behavior. When literature
It can help readers understand the difference between what is sensible and not sensible in the real world. breaks conventions, Fantasies provide it helps us to rethink metaphors through what we thought was which we can normal. examine aspects of life from a different perspective.

Figure 2: Traditional Fantasy vs. Modern Fantasy

BOTH genres are fantasies

TRADITIONAL FANTASY They from the oral tradition of collected stories. The setting is often vague and magical. Characters are symbolic and do not grow and change.

and portray other worlds, with elements of magic, talking animals, strange characters, and objects, can include s/heroe's journey, supernatural, universal themes of good versus evil, right versus wrong etc. Both can be allegorical, spiritual, satirical, and political.

MODERN FANTASY

Stories are associated with an author. Setting is detailed and key and should be credible. Characters grow and change.

TYPES OF MODERN FANTASY

Modern Folktales or Literary Folktales: very little character description/strong conflict/fastmoving plot/sudden resolution/vague setting -- known author. The Ugly Duckling, Peter Rabbit Animal Fantasy: animals behave as human beings/personified yet retaining many of their animal characteristics. Catwings Charlottes Web, Poppy books (Avi) Personified Characters and Objects: toys brought to life and believed in/often responsibility of parenthood assumed by the child protagonist Winnie the Pooh, Pinocchio Unusual Characters and Strange Situations: strange or ridiculous Alices Adventures in Wonderland, Pipi Longstocking Worlds of Little People: miniature people with a culture or world of their own. Children identify with indignities foisted upon little & powerless people/big people usually outdone by clever little people. Gulliver in Lilliput, The Borrowers Supernatural Events and Mystery Fantasy: ghost stories. Ghosts can be fearful threats or helpful protectors. The Boggart Historical Fantasy: timewarp fantasy. Time period must be fully & accurately developed. Stone Words, The Root Cellar, The Devils Arithmetic Quest Stories: adventure stories with a search motif. High fantasy/often set in medieval times/imaginary worlds/conflict between good and evil/characters drawn from myth and legend. Quest usually represents a journey of self-discovery and personal growth for protagonist. The Hobbit (Tolkien) The Wizard of Oz Science Fiction (imaginative lit about something that could happen based on real scientific facts and principles/ Must have appearance of scientific or technical plausibility About future worlds. Called futuristic fiction) (a scientific explanation/not necessarily plausible/offered for imaginative leaps into the unknown. Presents a world that is a mix of mythology and traditional fantasy with scientific or technological concepts. A Wrinkle in Time, The Giver, Feed

Autobiography
An autobiography is a story about a persons life and is written by the person who lived it. An autobiography can be about the persons whole life, part of that persons life, or a single event.

Biography
A biography is a selection about a real person's life that is written by another person.

Nonfiction
nonfiction provides information about real-life persons, objects, or ideas. Expository nonfiction may include graphic sources, such as charts and photos, that show information. A chart is a sheet of information. Facts are arranged in an easyto-read form.

Fantasy
A fantasy is a make-believe story that could never happen in the real world. Some characters and plot situations may be realistic, while others are exaggerated and even silly. The author uses a realistic classroom setting but then introduces fantastic characters who do impossible things.

Fiction
Fiction stories are stories that the author has made up. Fiction is an untrue story. Characters and events may be realistic, even though they might be unusual or even unlikely in some way.

Realistic Fiction
Fiction tells stories of imaginary people and events, realistic fiction tells a story that is possible. Plausible characters engage in actions that seem truthful and the story has a reasonable outcome. Eg Bridge to Terabithia, Because of Winn Dixie

Realistic fiction
can be based on a real story characters act like real people character tries to solve a problem story could happen in real life some events are historically accurate characters feelings and behaviors are like real life

Subject matter in realistic fiction

Families - relationship Peers - friendship Mental, Physical and Behavioral Challenges- disabilities Cultural Diversity racial, religious, ethnic minority Animals horse, dog Sports a member of a team Mysteries element of suspense Moral Choices crisis, a decision that may change ones life Romance and Sexuality friendship, physical attraction Rites of Passage growth in physical, emotional, moral, intellectual domains of life Adventure and Survival physical danger, external force.

Examples of realistic fiction

Robinson Crusoe (1812) by Johann Wyss The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain Little Women (1868) by Louisa May Alcott Anne of Green Gables (1908) by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Folk Tale
The original author is unknown and that folk tales often have different versions. These stories are passed down through generations over many centuries. Eg: Ali Baba, Sinbad the Sailor, Dick Whitthington and his cat.

Myth
A myth is a tale that has been passed down through generations and tells about nature and human behavior. Eg: Persephone, King Midas,

Narrative Nonfiction
A narrative is writing that tells about events. Narrative nonfiction tells about events that really happened.

Tall Tales
Tall tales are amusing stories told with great exaggeration and biggerthan-life characters. Eg: Paul Bunyan, Badang etc

Tall tales
Tall tales highly exaggerated accounts of exploits of persons, both real and imagined. heros abilities were valued more for their humor than for their factual content. suitable for aged 7 and up. Eg: - Paul Bunyan., The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Ages 9-12.

Epics
-long stories of human adventure and heroism recounted in many episodes. -characters can be human and divine. Heroalways human or superhuman, eg. Ulysses in Odyssey - setting- earthly, not always realistic.

 Myths - explain the origin of the world and the phenomena of nature (creation stories). - originated in ancient religious rituals - characters gods, goddesses - Examples: - Persephone

Fables
- Simple story that incorporates characters typically animals whose actions teach a moral lesson or universal truth. - Moral is stated at the end of the story. - eg: The Hare and the Tortoise: A Fable from Aesop

Tutorial Tasks
Group task:
Choose stories from any 3 genres of children stories to
be taught for a designated level, Justify your choices

- Many traditional tales have different versions, eg. Little Red Riding Hood, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, etc. - Collect samples of these different versions and decide which version would you use with your students. Why?