LGA3103 Topic 2 Exploration of Types of Stories

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TOPIC 2

EXPLORATION OF TYPES OF STORIES

2.0 SYNOPSIS

Topic 2 explores different genres of children’s literature which are modern fantasy, realistic

fiction, non-fiction, biography/autobiography and folktales (folklore/mythology), fables,

legends, parables.

2.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

Classify the different types / genres of children stories based on features and functions.

2.2 FRAMEWORK OF TOPICS

Exploration of types of stories

Modern fantasy

Realistic Fiction

Non-fiction Biography/

Autobiography

Folktales (folklore/mythology)

fables, lagends, parables

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2.3 Exploration Of Types Of Stories

Different stories bring different impacts on young learners. Having the

exposure to different types of stories would benefit young learners in

many ways - as they will gain different experiences of lives. As a school

teacher, you should use your creativity to ensure that your learners will

get an optimum input from all types of stories.

2.3.1 Modern Fantasy

Modern fantasy refers to the body of literature in which the events, the setting, or the

characters are outside the realm of possibility. Among the types of modern fantasy are

modern folktales, animal fantasy, personified toys and object, unusual characters and

strange situations and world of little people.

Features and functions of modern fantasy

i. It is a story that cannot happen in the real world;

ii. it has a known author;

iii. It was created mainly for entertainment purposes, though they might have a

lesson.

Examples

1. “Harry Potter” by JK Rowling

2. “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Caroll

2.3.2 Realistic fiction

Realistic fiction refers to stories that could really happen to people and animals; that

is, it is within the realm of possibility that such events could occur or could have occurred.

Family stories, adventure and survival stories, and mystery of detective stories are among

the types of realistic fiction.

Features and functions of realistic fiction

i. It portrays the world as it is.

ii. It does not contain fantasy nor supernatural elements.

iii. Everything is realistic: including plot, characters and setting- is consistent with

the lives of real people in our world.

iv. The plots in these stories deal with familiar everyday problems, pleasures and

personal relationships.

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Examples

i. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

ii. “The Return” by KS Maniam

2.3.3 Non-fiction

Non-fiction is prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real

people, places, objects, or events. It is an account or representation of a subject which is

presented as fact. This presentation may be accurate or it can give either a true or a false

account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such

accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition.

Features and functions of Non-fiction

i. The people, events, places, and ideas presented in nonfiction are real, not

invented;

ii. It is narrated by an author who is a real person;

iii. It presents facts, describes true-life experiences, or discusses ideas;

iv. It is written for a specific audience, or group of readers;

v. It addresses a clear purpose, or reason for writing.

Examples

i. “Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St Helens” by Patricia Lauber

ii. “Glossary of Literary Terms” by MH Abrams

2.3.4 Biography/Autobiography

a) Biography is the story of someone’s life as told by someone else

Features and functions of a biography

i. It is about a person’s life, character, temperament, his social situation,

his experiences and things he did.

ii. It is about famous people.

iii. It written by someone else to give information about those famous

people.

Examples

i. “Life of Samuel Johnson” by James Boswell.

ii. “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson

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b) Autobiography is the story of one’s life as told by oneself.

Features and function of an autobiography

i. It emphasises on the subject’s development;

ii. It is about well known people;

iii. It is written by the person himself;

iv. It is to get other people to know writer’s life

Examples

i. The Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank

ii. The Doctor in the House by Mahathir Mohamed

2.3.5 Folk tales (folklore/mythology), fables, legends, parables

a) Folk tales

These are ‘prose narratives which are regarded as fiction which usually tell the adventures of

animal or human characteristics.

Folklore

Sayings, verbal compositions, and social rituals that have been handed down orally

rather than in written form.

Features and functions of folklore:

i. It is in a form of oral jokes, stories and varieties of wordplay

ii. It is about weather, plants, animals and social activities

iii. It reinforces moral values and builds wit.

Examples

i. The Legend of Mahsuri

ii. The Arabian Nights

Myths

Myths are stories of gods, goddesses and heroes of a given culture. They explain the

origins of customs and social beliefs – Greek myths, Norse, Native American, African,

and Asian.

Features and functions of myth

i. It is a traditional story;

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ii. It may describe the origins of the world or a people;

iii. It attempts to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural

traditions;

iv. It can involve gods or other creatures;

v. It represents reality in dramatic ways.

Examples

i. Hercules

ii. Medusa’s Head

b) Fables

Fables are brief tales in which animal characters that talk and act like humans indicate a

moral lesson or satirize human conduct.

Features and functions of fables

i. All animal characters in this story talk and act like humans;

ii. It indicate a moral lesson clearly or satirize human conduct.

Examples

i. The Hare and the Tortoise

ii. The Crow and the Jar

c) Legends

A legend is a story purported to be historical in nature, but without substantiation. Where

evidence of the existence of actual historical figures exists, figures like King Richard are

legends due in large part to the many stories that have been created about them.

Features and functions of legend

i. It refers to anything that inspires a body of stories, or anything of lasting

importance or fame;

ii. It is handed down from earlier times, but will continue to evolve with time.

Examples

i. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

ii. Hang Tuah.

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d) Parable

A parable is a short and simple story about human beings. It has a moral and religious

lesson. It is usually about familiar and ordinary things.

Features and function of parable

i. It teaches readers about the truly important things in life;

ii. It teaches moral and religious lessons;

iii. It encourages good deeds.

Examples

i. “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck

ii. The Parable of the Goog Samaritan” by Jan Wijnants

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Task 1

In your folio, record what you understand by modern fantasy, realistic

fiction, non-fiction, biography/autobiography, folktales

(folklore/mythodology), fables, legends and parables.

For further reading for this task:

1. Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 9, Lynch, C.(1993) Essentials of Children’s

Literature.

2. Chapters 6, 7, 9, and 11, Norton, D.E. (2007). Through the eyes of a

child. An introduction to Children’s Literature

Task 2

In groups:

1. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences across

types/genres

2. Discuss features and functions or each type/genre.

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REFERENCES

Brown, C.L. & Tomlinson, C.M. (1993) Essentials of Children’s Literature. Boston: Allyn and

Bacon.

Norton, D.E. (2007) Through the eyes of a child. An introduction to Children’s Literature. (7th

Ed.). New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Sawyer, W. E. (2004) Growing up with Literature. (4th Ed). NY: Thomson.

Wood, M. (1994) Essentials of Classroom teaching. Elementary Language Arts. Boston:

Allyn and Bacon.

Prepared by:

Juwati Binti Abdul Ghafar

IPG Kampus Kota Bharu.