Genres and Literature

When you speak about genre and literature, genre means a

category, or kind of story.

Urycki/KMS

All categories of books or stories can be called either fiction or non-fiction.

Fictiona made up story can tell about

things that could happen

is read for fun characters may be

like real people or imaginary

Non-Fictionhas facts that can

be checked and proven

the author is an expert on this information

it IS TRUE!

Genre

There are many categories of stories and books

Here are some of the common ones:realistic fiction “How to” books

historical fiction poetry

mystery horror

science fiction folktales/fables

fantasy nonfiction- biographies, autobiographies, informational texts

GenreThese are the choices we will use for our

projects and writings. Realistic FictionHistorical FictionFantasyScience FictionHorror/MysteryFables/Traditional LiteratureInformational/Nonfiction, including:

Biographies & autobiographies

Realistic fiction

can be based on a real storycharacters act like real peoplecharacter tries to solve a problemstory could happen in real lifesome events are historically accuratecharacter’s feelings and behaviors are

like real life the settings could be real or are

real places

Historical fiction

The genre of historical fiction in the field of children’s literature includes stories that are written to portray a time period or convey information about a specific time period or an historical event.

In historical fiction, setting is the most important literary element. Because the author is writing about a particular time in history, the information about the time period must be accurate, authentic, or both.

These works may have characters who are either imaginary or who actually lived during the time period.

Settings also may be real or imaginary. The plot events may be documented historical events or they

may be fictional. If they are fictional, it means that the author created the events for the telling of the story.

The fictional characters, settings, and plot events must be portrayed authentically as if they actually could have happened.

A classic example of historical fiction is Johnny Tremain, a 1944 Newbery Medal book. The primary setting is Boston in 1773. The book contains both real and fictional characters, real and fictional settings, and real and fictional events.

The book is successful because of author Esther Forbes’s extensive historical research and knowledge of the time period and her skillful blending of history and fiction into a believable story.

Historical fiction cont.

Fantasy

animal characters may act like peoplecharacters may have special powers characters may be imaginary beingssetting may be in another time and/or

imaginary placeusually has a good vs. evil conflictmay use scientific principles not yet

available or discovered

            

novels, short stories, or movies that apply science or scientific ways of thinking to futuristic or fantastic situations.

Science Fiction

What is the Difference Between Science Fiction and Fantasy?

Science fiction could be robots, fifth dimension or alien invasions.

Fantasy has characters, objects, or events that aren’t scientifically possible, like talking animals, or some one who is immortal.

Basically, the difference is that in fantasy, you write about things you believe to be impossible, while in SF you write about stuff that hasn't been disproved. Everything else is window-dressing.

Sci-fi vs. FantasyAccording to Michael Crichton, useful definitions for fantasy and science fiction are:

SCIENCE FICTION -- fictional narratives about what is known or probable according to our current understanding of physics, history, etc.

FANTASY -- fictional narratives dealing with the impossible.

Horror/MysteryCharacterized by mysterious, horrific

events which include suspense and vivid description!

Violence, if included, is not gratuitous!gratuitous =Authors use terse, vivid description,

foreshadowing, and figurative language when crafting these narratives.

What is the etymology of the word “horror”?

Informational

tells facts that can be looked-up or proventells about real eventscharacters have really livedmay have maps, diagrams and

illustrations to explain the factsauthor is an expert on the subjectalso known as nonfiction literatureIncludes: biographies, autobiographies,

textbook-style, etc.

Autobiography

Non-fictionTrue story about

the authorTrue story written

by the authorAll events actually

occurredAll people and

places are real

Biography

Non-fiction True story about a

person’s life The true story is not

written by that person, but has a different author

All events actually occurred

All people and places are real

Traditional Literature

tells about the great deeds of a person who may have lived

may exaggerate a person’s bravery or powersprobably a long ago settingstory may be considered a part of the history and

culture of a group of peoplemagic may be used to solve a problema lesson can be learned from the story this includes fables, folktales and

fairytales.

           

Poetry

page format may look different than other books

may have rhythm (beat)may rhymeimaginative and creativeuses describing or exciting wordstells a story in verse