Genre

The student will distinguish

among different genres using

their distinguishing characteristics.

SPI 0701.8.3

GenreThe student will determine the

common characteristics of literary drama,

nonfiction, novels, poetry, and short

stories.

SPI 0701.8.4

Unlock the Doors to Literature

A Genre Is a Type A Genre Is a Type or Kind of or Kind of LiteratureLiterature

MysteryMystery

Characteristics of Characteristics of MysteriesMysteries

Usually, something strange happens . . . Usually, something strange happens . . . like something is stolen or disappears, or like something is stolen or disappears, or worse yet someone is killed.worse yet someone is killed.

A detective tries to solve the mystery to A detective tries to solve the mystery to find out who did it.find out who did it.

Clues lead the detective to solve the Clues lead the detective to solve the mystery.mystery.

Recommended Titles:

Realistic FictionRealistic Fiction

Characteristics of Characteristics of Realistic FictionRealistic Fiction

It seems like it could happen It seems like it could happen today.today.

Characters seem like real people.Characters seem like real people. It usually happens in a common It usually happens in a common

place.place.

Recommended Titles:

Historical FictionHistorical Fiction

Characteristics of Characteristics of Historical FictionHistorical Fiction

The story happens at a DIFFERENT time The story happens at a DIFFERENT time in history (WWII, the Wild West, the in history (WWII, the Wild West, the Depression).Depression).

It could have happened as the story was It could have happened as the story was written.written.

Recommended Titles:

FantasyFantasy

Characteristics of Characteristics of Fantasy or Science Fantasy or Science FictionFiction Something in the book happens Something in the book happens

that couldn’t happen in real life.that couldn’t happen in real life. May include magic, ghosts, and May include magic, ghosts, and

talking animals. talking animals.

Recommended Titles:

Fairy Tales & Fairy Tales & FolkloreFolklore

Characteristics of Fairy Characteristics of Fairy TalesTales or Folklore or Folklore

Often begin with “Once upon a Often begin with “Once upon a time” or end with “Happily ever time” or end with “Happily ever after.”after.”

Include magical characters.Include magical characters. Characters are “good” or “bad.”Characters are “good” or “bad.” Are available in many different Are available in many different

versions because of their spoken versions because of their spoken storytelling tradition.storytelling tradition.

Recommended Titles:

AdventureAdventure

Characteristics of Characteristics of AdventureAdventure

A story involving A story involving great action or great action or some sort of some sort of exciting event.exciting event.

Often takes place in Often takes place in the outdoors.the outdoors.

Recommended Titles:

Tall TalesTall Tales

Characteristics of Tall TalesCharacteristics of Tall Tales

TTrickery or cleverness rickery or cleverness AAdventure (often from our dventure (often from our

country’s westward expansion)country’s westward expansion) LLarger than life qualities often arger than life qualities often

based on a real personbased on a real person EExaggeration used to make it xaggeration used to make it

entertainingentertaining

Recommended Titles:

PoetryPoetry

Characteristics of Characteristics of PoetryPoetry Rhyme or Non-rhymeRhyme or Non-rhyme Often written in stanzasOften written in stanzas Many different types of PoetryMany different types of Poetry• ex. – narrative, ode, lyric, etcex. – narrative, ode, lyric, etc

Imagery – appeals to the Imagery – appeals to the sensessenses

Drama Drama

Characteristics of Characteristics of DramaDrama Written in Acts or ScenesWritten in Acts or Scenes One to many charactersOne to many characters Written in conversation styleWritten in conversation style

– Monologue or dialogueMonologue or dialogue Stage directions for actors Stage directions for actors Designed to be performed on Designed to be performed on

stagestage

Biography Biography

Characteristics of Characteristics of BiographyBiography

A story written about a person’s A story written about a person’s life by another personlife by another person

Non-fictionNon-fiction Usually in chronological orderUsually in chronological order

Autobiography Autobiography

Characteristics of Characteristics of AutobiographyAutobiography A story of a person’s life written A story of a person’s life written

by that very person.by that very person. Non-fictionNon-fiction Usually chronological orderUsually chronological order

NovelsNovels

Characteristics of Characteristics of NovelNovel Book-length worth of fictionBook-length worth of fiction More characters and conflictMore characters and conflict Possible multiple settings and Possible multiple settings and

themesthemes Can span many years or generationsCan span many years or generations Longer in lengthLonger in length Multiple chaptersMultiple chapters

Short StoryShort Story

Characteristics of Characteristics of Short StoryShort Story

One main plot lineOne main plot line A few major charactersA few major characters One important conflictOne important conflict One main themeOne main theme