Narrative Genre Review

Narrative Genre Review Poetry, Fantasy, Legend, and Drama Begin Created by S. Telford

Welcome! Are you ready to try something new or different? At the library or in the classroom do you usually choose the same type of book?

Today you will be introduced to four different genres (zhahn-ruh z) that you might not have tried. To put it simply, a genre is a group of books, stories, or other text that have things in common. For example, mystery books are a type of genre. If you like books where the characters look for clues to solve a problem, then you might like mysteries. So if you like Nate the Great books (which are mysteries) then you might like Cam Jansen books which are also mysteries.

For each genre you will find out what to look for, see examples, and then be asked a question to see if you can spot the genre. At the end there is a short quiz so you can see what you have learned. Let’s get started! The genres you will “meet” today will be poetry, fantasy, legend, and drama. You may have heard of some of them, but after today you will know how to spot them when choosing books you want to read.

Poetry Words written to create thoughts and feelings from the reader. It often uses rhythm and rhyme. Things to look for: • Words that make a picture in the reader’s mind • Words are carefully chosen • Sticks to one topic • Shorter lines than a story • Divided into verses (short groups of words)

Poetry – Example 1 This Is Just to Say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold. William Carlos Williams What makes this poetry?

What makes this poetry? This Is Just to Say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold. William Carlos Williams Short lines Uses few words to create a picture Divided into verses or sections

Poetry – Example 2 First Snow Snow makes whiteness where it falls. The bushes look like popcorn-balls. And places where I always play, Look like somewhere else today. Marie Louise Allen What makes this poetry?

What makes this poetry? Good word choice First Snow Snow makes whiteness where it falls. The bushes look like popcorn-balls. And places where I always play, Look like somewhere else today. Marie Louise Allen Sticks to one topic Uses few words to create a picture

Poetry Quiz Which of the following is an example of poetry? • Mrs. Klein: George! … your breakfast is ready! … George! • (There is no answer) • Mrs. Klein: George! You better hurry up! It`s getting late!… George! • (There is no answer. After a few minutes she goes to see George. She enters his bedroom). • Mrs. Klein: George! You are not ready! • George: Oh, mom… I don`t feel good… • There once lived a Wizard, a Fairy, and a Magic Chicken. Each thought, “I am the greatest in the world.” And each was very jealous of the other two. • The air is like a butterfly • With frail blue wings. • The happy earth looks at the sky • And sings. A B C

Sorry! This is an example of drama. Remember that poetry uses words to create thoughts and feelings from the reader. It often uses rhythm and rhyme. Look for: • Words that make a picture in the reader’s mind • Words are carefully chosen • Sticks to one topic • Shorter lines than a story • Divided into verses (short groups of words)

Sorry! This is an example of fantasy. Remember that poetry uses words to create thoughts and feelings from the reader. It often uses rhythm and rhyme. Look for: • Words that make a picture in the reader’s mind • Words are carefully chosen • Sticks to one topic • Shorter lines than a story • Divided into verses (short groups of words)

Good job! Yes, this is an example of poetry.

Fantasy A story that could not happen in real life, often with magical qualities. Things to look for: • talking animals • imagination and make-believe • unrealistic events (things that couldn’t really happen) • a conflict of good vs. evil

Fantasy – Example 1 An armored knight stands on a wind-swept plain. His eyes watch the sky as a dark shadow approaches. Above him, a huge dragon stretches out its wings. The dragon shrieks as it dives at its enemy. What makes this fantasy?

What makes this fantasy? Good vs. evil An armored knight stands on a wind-swept plain. His eyes watch the sky as a dark shadow approaches. Above him, a huge dragon stretches out its wings. The dragon shrieks as it dives at its enemy. Use of make-believe

Fantasy - Example 2 On Thursday, when Imogene woke up, she found she had grown antlers. Getting dressed was difficult, and going through a door now took some thinking. What makes this fantasy?

What makes this fantasy? On Thursday, when Imogene woke up, she found she had grown antlers. Getting dressed was difficult, and going through a door now took some thinking. Use of imagination Unrealistic event

Fantasy Quiz Which of the following is an example of fantasy? How thin and sharp is the moon tonight! How thin and sharp and ghostly white Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight! The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another his mother called him “WILD THING!” and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” so he was sent to bed without eating anything. That very night in Max’s room a forest grew… Julia: Hey, it’s Mother’s Day today. Joey: Really. What do we do on Mother’s Day? Julia: We celebrate because our mother’s gave birth to us. Joey: I thought we did that on Labor Day. Julia: I think that’s something different. A B C

Sorry! This is an example of poetry. Remember that fantasy is a story that could not happen in real life, often with magical qualities. Look for: • talking animals • imagination and make-believe • unrealistic events (things that couldn’t really happen) • a conflict of good vs. evil

Great job! Yes, this is an example of Fantasy.

Sorry! This is an example of drama. Remember that fantasy is a story that could not happen in real life, often with magical qualities. Look for: • talking animals • imagination and make-believe • unrealistic events (things that couldn’t really happen) • a conflict of good vs. evil

Legend A story handed down for many years through people telling them over and over. Legends are probably based on fact, but not all true. Things to look for: • Characters who are brave and unselfish • Overstated traits of strength and bravery • Good wins over evil • Happened a long time ago • Part fact and part fiction • Might be about a famous hero • Can explain how something came to be or exist

Legend - Example 1 Paul Bunyan was the largest, smartest, and strongest baby ever born in the state of Maine. Even before he learned to talk, Paul showed an interest in the family logging business. He took the lumber wagon and wandered through the neighborhood collecting trees. What makes this a legend?

What makes this a legend? Famous hero. Paul Bunyan was the largest, smartest, and strongest baby ever born in the state of Maine. Even before he learned to talk, Paul showed an interest in the family logging business. He took the lumber wagon and wandered through the neighborhood collecting trees. Exaggerations

Legend - Example 2 Long ago, when the world was very young, the buffalo had no hump. He got his hump one summer because of his unkindness to birds. He liked to race across the prairies for fun. The foxes would run ahead of him and tell the little animals that their chief, the buffalo, was coming. What makes this a legend?

What makes this a legend? Happened a long time ago. Long ago, when the world was very young, the buffalo had no hump. He got his hump one summer because of his unkindness to birds. He liked to race across the prairies for fun. The foxes would run ahead of him and tell the little animals that their chief, the buffalo, was coming. Explains how something came to exist.

Legend Quiz Which one of these story summaries is an example of a legend? One day a young boy with a scar on his forehead finds out he is really a wizard and will go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A young Comanche girl sacrifices her doll with the blue feathers in a fire so the Great Spirits will make it rain and save her people. The ashes from that doll are scattered around and in the morning the ground is covered with blue flowers and it starts to rain. Now every spring the hills and valleys of Texas are covered with blue flowers. Four children find that the wardrobe in an empty room is really a gateway to a special land called Narnia. In Narnia they have great adventures that last for years, but in the real world outside the wardrobe, only minutes have passed. A B C

Sorry! This is an example of fantasy. A legend is a story handed down for many years through people telling them over and over. Legends are probably based on fact, but not be all true. Look for: • Characters who are brave and unselfish • Overstated traits of strength and bravery • Good wins over evil • Happened a long time ago • Part fact and part fiction • Might be about a famous hero • Can explain how something came to be or exist

Congratulations! Yes, this is an example of a legend.

Sorry! This is an example of fantasy. A legend is a story handed down for many years through people telling them over and over. Legends are probably based on fact, but not be all true. Look for: • Characters who are brave and unselfish • Overstated traits of strength and bravery • Good wins over evil • Happened a long time ago • Part fact and part fiction • Might be about a famous hero • Can explain how something came to be or exist

Drama A story, usually for a performance, where the story is presented through dialogue (people talking to each other) and action. Things to look for: • narrator or announcer who gives background information • stage directions • scripts (looks like a reader’s theater or play) • characters talking to each other

Drama – Example 1 Narrator: Cinderella is very beautiful, and hard worker. She is good to her Stepmother and to her Stepsisters. One day they receive an invitation. Stepsister 1: Mother, read it! Stepsister 2: What does it say? Stepmother: It says… Every woman is invited to a ball. Cinderella: Oh, I want to go to the ball. I like to dance. Stepsisters: You want to go to the ball? You must be crazy! What makes this drama?

What makes this drama? Narrator: Cinderella is very beautiful, and hard worker. She is good to her Stepmother and to her Stepsisters. One day they receive an invitation. Stepsister 1: Mother, read it! Stepsister 2: What does it say? Stepmother: It says… Every woman is invited to a ball. Cinderella: Oh, I want to go to the ball. I like to dance. Stepsisters: You want to go to the ball? You must be crazy! Script like a reader’s theater Characters talking to each other

Drama – Example 2 Narrator: Dorothy was a little girl who lived in a farm in Kansas with her uncle Henry, her aunt Em, and a little black dog called Toto. One day Dorothy was playing outside with her dog, when her uncle said. Uncle Henry: A tornado is coming! Narrator: Aunt Em went to the door, and when she saw the dark sky she knew they were in danger. Aunt Em: Dorothy! Come inside and go to the basement! What makes this drama?

What makes this drama? Narrator gives extra information. Narrator: Dorothy was a little girl who lived in a farm in Kansas with her uncle Henry, her aunt Em, and a little black dog called Toto. One day Dorothy was playing outside with her dog, when her uncle said. Uncle Henry: A tornado is coming! Narrator: Aunt Em went to the door, and when she saw the dark sky she knew they were in danger. Aunt Em: Dorothy! Come inside and go to the basement! Script like a reader’s theater

Drama Quiz One morning, while Al was shaving, a voice called to him. “Hey, Al,” it said. Al turned and saw a bird. A large bird. “Al,” said the bird, “are you working too hard? Still struggling and going nowhere? Hmmm? Listen. Have I got a place for you. No worries, no cares – it’s terrific.” How thin and sharp is the moon tonight! How thin and sharp and ghostly white Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight! Mrs. Klein: George! … your breakfast is ready! … George! (there is no answer) Mrs. Klein: George! You better hurry up! It`s getting late!… George! (there is no answer. After a few minutes she goes to see George. She enters his bedroom). Mrs. Klein: George! You are not ready! George: Oh, mom… I don`t feel good… A B C

Sorry! This is an example of fantasy. Drama is a story, usually for a performance, where the story is presented through dialogue (people talking to each other) and action. Look for: • narrator or announcer who gives background information • stage directions • scripts (looks like a reader’s theater or play) • characters talking to each other

Sorry! This is an example of poetry. Drama is a story, usually for a performance, where the story is presented through dialogue (people talking to each other) and action. Look for: • narrator or announcer who gives background information • stage directions • scripts (looks like a reader’s theater or play) • characters talking to each other

Good job! Yes, this is drama. Are you ready for the final quiz? Are you a genre expert?

Genre Quiz – page 1 1. This genre gets you to use your imagination. The story might have talking animals or things that could not happen in real life. Good usually wins over evil. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama 2. This story is performed, often for an audience. There can be a narrator and the characters talk to one another. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama

Genre Quiz – page 2 3. Words that paint a clear picture which are divided into verses. It usually sticks to one topic and often uses rhythm and rhyme. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama 4. A story that is passed down from person to person that may have started with facts, but has become mixed with fiction over the years. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama

Genre Quiz – page 3 5. The only thing that was really different about Chewandswallow was its weather. It came three times a day, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everything that everyone ate came from the sky. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama 6. Goose, goose, goose, You bend your neck towards the sky and sing. Your white feathers float on the emerald water, Your red feet push the clear waves. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama

Genre Quiz – page 4 7.The story begins when Bill was a not-so-tiny baby. He grew fast on a diet of milk, tumbleweeds, cactus, and hot Texas barbecue. By the time he was six months old, he could ride a horse and rope a calf. This is an example of : PoetryFantasyLegendDrama 8.Ruddy: Let’s go play! Stephany: Yeah, let’s do a sand castle!Al: I will help do the towers!Charly: No, I don’t want to do a sand castle. Let’s bury ourselves in the sand.Crystal: No, let’s do a sand castle. I will help you dig. (Crystal starts to dig and finds something: A pot) This is great! Hey look what I found! This is an example of : Poetry Fantasy LegendDrama

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Narrative Genre Review