Genres in Children’s Literature

1. Genres in Children’s Literature Britany Howell University of West Alabama LM 506

2. What is aGENRE? • A genre is a kind or type of literature that has a common set of characteristics. • Genres in literature are not always clear-cut and easily distinguished. • There are 6 major groups of genres in children’s literature.

3. 1. REALISM * Realistic Stories * Animal Realism * Historical Fiction * Sports Stories 2. FORMULA FICTION * Mysteries & Thrillers *Romantic Stories * Series Books 3. FANTASY * Fantastic Stories * High Fantasy * Science Fiction 4. TRADITIONAL TALES *Fables * Folktales * Myths * Legends & Hero Tales * Folk Epics 5. POETRY 6. NONFICTION * Informational Books * Biographies The Six Major Genre Groups and their Subgroups

4. 1. REALISM • Fictional narratives with characters who are involved in some kind of action that holds our interest • Realistic stories include events and happenings that are real and possible • Has 4 subgenres: Realistic Stories Sports Stories Animal Realism Historical Fiction

5. These stories are realistic or possible. Problems are not universal but personal and particular. Includes round central characters Examples: The Summer of the Swans The Great Gilly Hopkins Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry REALISM:Realistic Stories

6. 1. REALISM:Animal Realism • These stories include a realistic portrayal of animals without personification. While they may be thought of as animals, they are not given humanistic traits. • Conflict is usually animal versus nature. • Through this type of literature, discovery about animals or their relationship to humans is portrayed. • Examples: The Incredible Journey Owls in the Family

7. Historical fiction is placed in the past, and the time and place in the past determine the setting. All details such as clothing, vehicles, and food preparation must fit the time and place. Well-written historical fiction often rouses within the reader an unanswered question: How much of this is true? Examples: Number the Stars The Witch of Blackbird Pond Summer of My German Soldier 1. REALISM:Historical Fiction

8. REALISM:Sports Stories • Characters play, watch, or live on the fringes of all kinds of sports. • Team sports such as baseball, football, and basketball are most common. • Emphasis on team play and sportsmanship is frequently the theme of Sports Stories. • Examples: The Moves Make the Man Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat The Baseball Bargain

9. 2.FORMULA FICTION • Follows distinct patterns • Following a formula restricts the writer’s originality. • Has 3 subgenres: Mysteries and Thrillers Series Books Romantic Stories

10. 2. FORMULA FICTION:Mysteries & Thrillers • Relies on suspense upon unexplained events and actions • A traditional quality of an effective mystery story is foreshadowing. • Easy to understand, moves quickly with little description and much dialogue, and it comes to satisfying conclusions. • Examples: Nancy Drew books Hardy Boys books

11. 2. FORMULA FICTION:Romantic Stories • A story that is freely imaginative. • A fictitious narrative in which the scene and incidents are remote from those of normal life. • “Read one, you’ve read them all.” • Examples: Treasure Island Kidnapped Sweetheart Novels

12. 2. FORMULA FICTION:Series Books • Documents character growth • Plots are separated but are similar • Helps young readers discover that there is pleasure in reading • Examples: Babysitters Club Series Ramona Quimby books

13. 3.FANTASY • Writers of fantasy books create another world for characters and readers • Requires “the willing suspension of disbelief,” a phrase from Coleridge • Has 3 subgenres: Fantastic Stories Science Fiction High Fantasy

14. 3. FANTASY:Fantastic Stories • Characters can be like or unlike human beings • Characters can have magical qualities • Setting may be in another time (ex. future) • Examples: The Widow’s Broom Charlotte’s Web Sweet Whispers

15. 3. FANTASY:High Fantasy • Focuses on the conflict between good vs. evil • Portrays full and complete human beings, like the hero • Themes encompass a broad concern for humanity • Examples: Rasco and the Rats of NIMH A Wrinkle In Time The Hero and the Crown

16. 3. FANTASY:Science Fiction • May rely heavily on conflict rather than character to hold reader’s interest • Built around human beings with a human problem and a human solution but could not have happened without its scientific content • Examples: The House of Stairs Star Trek Series

17. 4. TRADITIONAL TALES • Hundreds of versions of the same stories tend to exist • There is no final and definitive version of a piece of folk literature • Has 5 subgenres: Folk Epics Myths Fables Folktales Legends And Heroes

18. 4. TRADITIONAL TALES:Fables • A very brief story • Usually has animal characters • Person vs. person conflict • Story points clearly to a moral or lesson • Examples: The Tortoise and the Hare The Fox and the Crow

19. 4. TRADITIONAL TALES:Folktales • Stories heard by the teller and then retold in the teller’s own words • Stock characters frequently appear • Bad and good characters are easily identified • Person vs. person OR person vs. personified nature conflicts • Examples: Cinderella Jack and the Beanstalk

20. 4. TRADITIONAL TALES:Myths • Handed down by word of mouth • Gods and heroes with traits linked to supernatural powers • An incident or incidents usually occur linked by the character. • Examples: Wonder Woman’s Book of Myths Celtic Myths and Legends

21. 4. TRADITIONAL TALES:Legends and Hero Tales • Traditional narrative of people • Has historical truth and less reliance upon the supernatural • Fictional traits and situations • Examples: King Arthur Robin Hood

22. 5. TRADITIONAL TALES:Folk Epics • Long narrative poem of unknown authorship • Outstanding or royal character in a series of adventures related to heroic central figure • Character has superhuman qualities • Examples: Beowulf Finn MacCool

23. 5. POETRY • A kind of imaginative and artistic writing • Ballads, narrative poetry, and lyric poetry are all types of poetry • Pieces of writing that have rhythm or rhyme are not necessarily considered poetry

24. 5. POETRY • A kind of imaginative and artistic writing • Compactness is essential to make words say much more than literal or denotative meaning • Much of poetry is rhyme or verse • Examples: Revenge of the Lunch Ladies When the Teacher Isn’t Looking

25. 6. NONFICTION • Nonfiction books are made up of factual information • Relates facts to a concept • Has 2 subgenres: Informational Books Biographies

26. 6. NONFICTION:Informational Books • Gives information and facts • Stimulates curiosity • Organized from simplest to most complex • Diagrams and drawings often clearer than pictures • Example: Fix It with Bob

27. 6. NONFICTION:Biographies • Gives accurate, verifiable facts and authentic picture of period • Subject worthy of attention • Sources of information shown or listed • Examples: Benjamin Franklin, Amazing American

28. Each table will work together as a group. Use the books at your table and determine which genre of literature each is categorized as. Write your answers on the chart I give you. The first group to complete this activity with correct answers will receive a door prize!!!! GROUP ACTIVITY!!