Genres of Literature

1. Fiction Non-Fiction Genres of Literature Poetry Andrea Curd RDG 541

2. Fiction

3. Non-Fiction

4. Poetry

5. Fantasy Fiction • A story that is imaginative, but could never really happen. The setting may be of another world. Characters might be magical.

6. Historical Fiction Fiction • A story that takes place in a historically accurate time and setting. The characters and some events are fictional.

7. Mystery Fiction • A story that usually involves suspense and the solving of a crime. Clues are typically given throughout the story to solve the mystery at the end of the book.

8. Realistic Fiction Fiction • A story that seems real or could happen in real life. It is set in present day and includes modern day problems and events.

9. Science Fiction Fiction • A story that is typically set in the future or on other planets. It is based on the impact of actual, imagined, or potential science.

10. Adventure Fiction • A story where a protagonist and other major characters and are placed in dangerous situations. The characters must use their wit and skills to defeat the antagonist.

11. Folktales Fiction

12. Fable Fiction: Folktale • A brief story that is meant to tell a lesson or a moral. The characters are usually animals with human characteristics.

13. Fairy Tale Fiction: Folktale • A story that has magical elements. The characters are usually fairies, giants, elves, and other magical creatures.

14. Legend Fiction: Folktale • A story usually about a national or folk hero. This story takes place in a particular time and place and is partly true and partly fiction. The character traits of the hero are typically exaggerated.

15. Tall Tale Fiction: Folktale • A humorous story with extreme exaggerations. The main character, or hero, usually does impossible things with ease.

16. Myth Fiction: Folktale • A story that is often based on a historical event that is meant to serve as an explanation for some phenomenon of nature or human behavior. Characters are usually gods.

17. Poetry: Free Verse List Poem • A poem that is based on a list or catalog of some sort.

18. Poetry: Free Verse Poem of Address • A poem that is written to somebody or something. It is not about that person or thing.

19. Poetry: Free Verse Narrative Poem • A poem that is written from a different point of view. First person poems use the word “I”. It is personal because an individual is speaking to us. Second person poems use the word “you”. It is intimate because it is like speaking to someone in the room. Third person poems use words such as “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, etc. It is like speaking to someone who is not there with you.

20. Poetry: Structured Couplet • A form of poetry that uses two lines that rhyme.

21. Poetry: Structured Haiku • A type of poetry from the Japanese culture. It consists of three lines. The first line has five syllables, the second has seven syllables, and the third has five syllables. Haiku does not rhyme. It is meant to paint a mental image. Haikus are typically about nature.

22. Poetry: Structured Cinquain • A cinquain is a five line poem. • Line 1: one word (subject or noun) • Line 2: two words (adjectives) that describe line 1 • Line 3: three words (action verbs) that relate to line 1 • Line 4: four words (feelings or a complete sentence) that relates to line 1 • Line 5: one word (synonym of line 1 or a word that sums it up)

23. Poetry: Structured Diamante • A seven line poem in the shape of a diamond. • Line 1: one word (subject/noun that is contrasting to line 7) • Line 2: two words (adjectives) that describe line 1 • Line 3: three words (action verbs) that relate to line 1 • Line 4: four words (nouns) first 2 words relate to line 1 last 2 words relate to line 7 • Line 5: three words (action verbs) that relate to line 7 • Line 6: two words (adjectives) that describe line 7 • Line 7: one word ( subject/noun that is contrasting to line 1)

24. Poetry: Structured Acrostic • A poem in which the first letters of each line spell a special word.

25. Poetry: Structured Biopoem • A poem in which a person is described in eleven lines. • (First name)- • (Four adjectives) • (Brother of or Sister of) • Lover of (three different things that the person loves) • Who feels (three different feelings and when or where they are felt) • Who gives (three different things the person gives) • Who fears (three different fears the person has) • Who would like to see (three different things the person would like to see) • Who lives (a brief description of where the person lives) • -(Last name)

26. Biography Non-Fiction • A history of someone’s life, or part of someone’s life. This is a true story about a real person.

27. Autobiography Non-Fiction • A biography written by a person about his/her own life and history.

28. Essay Non-Fiction • A short composition, usually written from the author’s point of view. Essays can be persuasive, comparative, literary criticism, political manifestos, arguments, observations, recollections, or reflections.

29. How-To Non-Fiction • An instructional form of writing that demonstrates how to do a task, activity, procedure, etc.

30. Textbook Non-Fiction • A manual of instruction or standard book in any branch of study. Textbooks are usually written according to educational demands.

31. Encyclopedia Non-Fiction • A comprehensive written work that is used as a reference. It contains articles on various topics and branches of knowledge.

32. Magazine Non-Fiction • A periodical that contains articles, pictures, advertisements, stories, etc. that is published on a regular schedule.

33. Research Report Non-Fiction • An informational, objective piece of writing based on multiple accurate references.

34. Almanac Non-Fiction • An annual publication that contains tabular information in a particular field(s) according to the calendar. Information such as astronomical data, the rising and setting of the sun and moon, eclipses, hours of the tide, etc.

35. Newspaper Non-Fiction • A publication containing news, information, current events, and advertising. There are feature articles on topics such as political events, crime, business, art/entertainment, society, and sports. Many newspapers also include some editorial columns. Other sections include advertising, comics, and coupons.

36. Atlas Non-Fiction • A collection of maps of Earth, or parts of Earth. The atlas presents geographic features, political boundaries, and geopolitical, social, religious, and economic statistics.

37. Memoir Non-Fiction • A type of an autobiography. It is a writer’s own account of one or two important events and is told in the first person. It is descriptive and highly personal.

38. Brochure Non-Fiction • A pamphlet or leaflet advertisement. Brochures may advertise locations, events, hotels, products, services, etc. They are usually brief in language and have an eye-catching design.

39. Editorial Non-Fiction • An article that is usually in a newspaper or magazine, or on television or the radio. This article expresses the author’s personal opinion and view on a particular topic.

40. Advertisement Non-Fiction • A public promotion of a product or service. It is a form of communication used to help sell these products or services. It usually describes how the products or services can benefit the customer.