Genres in FictionGenres in Fiction

Cheryl YouseColquitt County High School

Narrative writing tells Narrative writing tells a story or part of a a story or part of a

storystoryFiction means the story is NOT true

Genre means a type or style of writing

FantasyFantasy• Has elements that are not Has elements that are not

realistic:realistic:

1.1. Talking animalsTalking animals

2.2. Magical powersMagical powers

3.3. Mythical beingsMythical beings

• Fantasy can be divided further into:Fantasy can be divided further into:

1.1. Science fiction AND Science fiction AND

2.2. Folklore, which includes:Folklore, which includes:

• Folk TalesFolk Tales

• Tall TalesTall Tales

• Fairy talesFairy tales

• FablesFables

• MythsMyths

• Legends Legends

Fanta

syFa

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sy

Science Science FictionFiction• Like fantasy, but Like fantasy, but

must include must include MACHINESMACHINES

• Partly true scientific Partly true scientific theoriestheories

• Settings: space, Settings: space, the future, a the future, a different world, different world, universe universe

FOLK TALESFOLK TALES• Fictional stories handed down Fictional stories handed down

by retellingby retelling• No known authorNo known author• ““Once upon a time…”Once upon a time…”• RepetitionRepetition• Numbers 3 or 7Numbers 3 or 7• TransformationsTransformations• Trickery or magicTrickery or magic

Fairy TalesFairy Tales• MagicMagic

• EnchantmentEnchantment

• RoyaltyRoyalty

• SupernaturalSupernatural

• Original or have Original or have named authorsnamed authors

Rapunzel

FablesFables• Very short stories Very short stories

with a moral or with a moral or lessonlesson

• Characters are Characters are animals that act animals that act like humanlike human

• They do not change They do not change but do learnbut do learn

MythsMyths• Stories told as if Stories told as if

they were factthey were fact• Usually involve Usually involve

gods, goddesses, gods, goddesses, supernatural powerssupernatural powers

• Happened a long Happened a long time agotime ago

• Often deal with Often deal with creation of the worldcreation of the world

LegendsLegends• Set in historic, less-Set in historic, less-

remote pastremote past• Based on real life Based on real life

hero and his/her hero and his/her deedsdeeds

• Not generally Not generally religiousreligious

• Humans, not gods, Humans, not gods, are main charactersare main characters

‘‘Possible’ Possible’ FictionFiction• Events that Events that mightmight or or might might

havehave happened happened

1.1. Historical FictionHistorical Fiction

2.2. Realistic FictionRealistic Fiction

Historical Historical FictionFiction

• Real person with Real person with imagined accounts of imagined accounts of what happenedwhat happened

• Real event with Real event with imaginary personimaginary person

Realistic Realistic FictionFiction

• Stories that Stories that take place in take place in here and nowhere and now

• Characters Characters are involved are involved in events that in events that could happencould happen

MysteryMystery• Has:Has:1.1. StrangenessStrangeness2.2. Solving a puzzleSolving a puzzle3.3. Solving a crimeSolving a crime4.4. Centered Centered

around a person around a person who who investigates investigates problemsproblems

5.5. Centered Centered around person around person whose job is to whose job is to get secret get secret informationinformation

Genres in fiction can be:Genres in fiction can be:

• FantasyFantasyScience FictionScience FictionFolkloreFolklore

• ‘‘Possible’ FictionPossible’ FictionHistorical FictionHistorical FictionRealistic fiction (contemporary)Realistic fiction (contemporary)

• MysteryMystery