Genres
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Genres:
I. Poetry: characteristics:
1. Figurative Language
2. Uses less space
3. Lyric Poetry- shows poet's feelings
4. Plays with sounds
5. Intended to be read aloud
6. Narrative Poetry- tells a story
II. Nonfiction
A. Biography
1. Tells about a real person
2. Describes the person's environment
3. Shows how the person affects other people
4. Shows the writer knows about this person
5. Provides anecdotes (stories) that show the person in action
6. States or implies how the person feels about the person
B. Autobiography
1. Main character is the writer
2. Describes major influences on the writer (people, places, events).
3. Reveals the writers feelings, reactions, and goals.
4. Recounts key incidents in the writer's life.
5. Describes the interactions between the writer and significant
people in his/her life.
C. Reports of information
1. Focuses on a central idea or controlling idea.
2. Includes plenty of facts.
3. Organizes the facts in a way that helps readers learn the infor-
mation.
4. Uses examples, explanations, and descriptions to clarify ideas that
may be new to the audience.
III. Fiction
A Realistic Fiction
1. Characters are fictional but they behave in realistic ways
2. There is a conflict or problem to solve
3. Places, events, and characters are vividly described
4. Setting- modern times- recognizable kind of place
5. Plot makes sense and ends with a resolution to the problem
6. Dialogue- the characters’ words show their
personalities and help move the plot along.
B. Historical Fiction
1. all may be fictional, or some may be real, while others are
fictional; they all behave in realistic ways.
2. Conflict/problem: the characters are involved in a problem
that is realistic for that time period.
3. Places, events, and characters are vividly described. The
author explains historical information that may be
unfamiliar to the reader.
4. Setting: a definite period in history; a real historical place
5. Plot: plot makes sense and ends with a solution to the
problem. Real events are mixed with fictional events.
6. Dialogue: The characters' words show their personalities,
move the plot along, and reflect what people knew and
thought about in those times. |
- Folk Literature
- Usually does not have a single, identifiable author
- Originates in oral tellings, and thus may appear in different versions in print
- Features stock characters who are either "all bad" or "all good"
- Has fantastic or unrealistic elements in it
- Usually has an easily discernible lesson or moral
- Is set in a vague historical past "long ago"
- Mystery
- Character: All involved in the basic problem to solve, or puzzle
- Setting: realistic
- Clues: The writer drops hints that might help the reader solve the mystery
- Distractions: Some things in the story are meant to distract readers; that is, to lead them away from the solution.
- Plot: Each major event is linked in steps that make sense.
- Conclusion: The story ends with a credible, realistic solution to the m
Myths
--stories that represent the deepest wishes and fears of human beings
--explained to the ancient people the mysterious and sometimes frightening forces of the universe, such as seasonal changes, lightning, floods, drought, and death
--used for these purposes:
1. explain the creation of the world
2. explain natural phenomena
3. to give story form to ancient religious practices
4. to teach moral lessons
5. to explain history
6. to express, as dreams do, the deepest fears and hopes of the human race
Fantasy
Plot: The major events could not happen, according to science as we know it today. It might involve magic or magical forces.
Setting: The place is often in a magical world, but it can occur in a realistic setting. The time is usually present
Problem: The characters solve a problem by using magic or impossible strategies.
Characters: They may be magical, human, or non-human, but they act in ways that makesense in a fantasy situation.
Science Fiction
Plot: The major events might really happen, based on scientific facts that we know today.
Setting: The place is Earth or another location that scientists theorize may exist. The time is usually in the near or distant future.
Problem: The characters solve a problem by using actual scientific data.
Characters: They may be human or imaginary; they are often aliens or robots. They act in ways that make sense from a scientific point of view.
