ENGLISH

ELEVENTH GRADE

Module - Lesson 2

Genres

Literary Genres

Definition: categories used to group different types of literary work, such as non-fiction, fiction and poetry.

What are some other types of genres?

Our Genre List

We will be learning about several different types of literary genres.  It is important to remember that this list does not include all types of genres found in literary works.

Non-Fiction

This can also be called “informational” material.  These types of books provide information that is factual.  Nothing is make-believe in these types of materials.  More specific examples of this type of genre would be . . .

Biographies:  A true account of a person's life written, composed, or produced by another.

Autobiographies: The biography of a person written by that person.

What are some non-fiction stories you have read?
Fiction

In this type of work, the author can make up the whole entire story.  Authors can also choose to include factual information in a made-up story.  The author can have wizards creating magic spells or it can be about a 12 year old girl who has a secret crush. 

Different types of fiction

Historical Fiction: The story takes the reader back to a particular time period where they learn about the everyday life of a person.  The character may interact with actual historical characters, but usually, the main character is not based on a real person.

Realistic Fiction: The story usually presents a problem to be examined that could be from anybody’s life.  They may cover such topics as family situations, peer relationships, and cultural differences.

Science Fiction: This is a type of modern fantasy.  It explores scientific fact and can pose ethical questions about current scientific trends and predictions.  The author focuses on the adventure of exploring the unknown and the wonder of discovering new worlds and people.

Mystery:  There are different types of mystery stories, but usually a crime has been committed and the reader wants to try to figure out “whodunit”.  There is usually a great deal of suspense and intrigue abounds.

Fantasy

In this type of story, the author has created a magical world where anything is possible.  There are many types of fantasy, from fables to fairy tales and may include magical beings, talking animals and gods and goddesses.

Traditional Fantasy:  When we think of this type of fantasy story, we often consider stories such as Cinderella.  This genre includes folk tales, tall tales, fables, and myths.  These are stories that have been told over and over, sometimes for hundreds or even thousands of years! 

Fairy Tales:  We often know we are reading or hearing a fairy tale with the words, “once upon a time . . .” Fairy tales often feature a fight between good and evil.  Evil always loses to a triumphant hero or heroine.  We also know it’s a fairy tale because most end with “and they lived happily ever after.”

Fables and Myths: 

•Fables:  These stories usually have a moral that is being taught.  It often uses animals that speak and act like humans.

•Myths:  a story or group of stories that form part of the traditional knowledge of a society. Myths often use imaginative plots and characters to explain how the world began and why nature and people behave the way they do.

Modern Fantasy:  The events in modern fantasy are outside the realm of possibility.  These stories cannot happen in real life, but even though we know the events can’t happen, they are very believable.  These stories allow us to live in an imaginary world where anything is possible. 

Genres

Practicing exercise-Answer key

I.                 Match:

1.                    Biography

2.                    Drama/ Play

3.                    Fable

4.                    Fantasy

5.                    Fiction

6.                    Mystery

7.                    Myth

8.Nonfiction

9.                    Poetry

10.               Science fiction.

a.     A made up story 

b.     A book about a famous person's life 

c.      A short fictitious story intended to teach a lesson in which animals speak and act like human beings 

d.     A fictitious story based on science and/or technology 

e.     A story made up and handed down by the common people to explain natural happenings. 

f.       A work of fiction dealing with the solution of a crime 

g.     A written work that tells a story through action and speech and is meant to be acted on a stage 

h.     A short prose narrative that usually portrays imaginary characters and events 

i.       Writing usually with a rhythm that repeats; words used to create images and feelings 

j.       Literature that contains true facts  

Genres

Practicing exercise-Answer key

1.     A made up story ------ Fiction

2.     A book about a famous person's life ------ Biography

3.     A short fictitious story intended to teach a lesson in which animals speak and act like human beings ------ Fable

4.     A fictitious story based on science and/or technology ------ Science Fiction

5.     A story made up and handed down by the common people to explain natural happenings. ------ Myth

6.     A work of fiction dealing with the solution of a crime ------ Mystery

7.     A written work that tells a story through action and speech and is meant to be acted on a stage ------ Drama/Play

8.     A short prose narrative that usually portrays imaginary characters and events ------ Fantasy

9.     Writing usually with a rhythm that repeats; words used to create images and feelings ------ Poetry

10.  Literature that contains true facts ------ Nonfiction

I.  Match the correct genre description to the correct genre in the word bank.

WORD BANK

a.     Traditional Literature

b.     Fantasy

c.      Science Fiction

d.     Realistic Fiction

e.     Historical Fiction

f.       Mystery

1. _________________________ A fictional story that takes place in a particular time period in the past. Often the setting is real, but the characters are made-up from the author’s imagination.

2. _________________________Stories that are passed down from one group to another in history. This includes folktales, legends, fables, fairy tales, tall tales, and myths from different cultures.

3. _________________________A story including elements that are impossible such as talking animals or magical powers. Make-believe is what this genre is all about.

4._________________________ A suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until the end of the story.

5. _________________________A story using made-up characters that could happen in real life.

6. _________________________A type of fantasy that uses science and technology (robots, time machines, etc.)

WORD BANK

a.     Informational

b.     Biography

c.      Autobiography

d.     Poetry

7. _________________________ The story of a real person’s life that is written by another person.

8. _________________________A verse written to create a response of thought and feeling from the reader. It often uses rhythm and rhyme to help convey its meaning.

9. _________________________ The story of a real person’s life that is written by that person.

10. _________________________Texts that provide facts about a variety of topics (sports, animals, science, history, careers, travel, geography, space, weather, etc.)

Genres

Quiz-Answer key

1.     e

2.     a

3.     b

4.     f

5.     d

6.     c

7.     b

8.     d

9.     c

10.  a

Genres

Test

I.                 Match:

a.     A short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point.

b.     Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.

c.      Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets.

d.     Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain; but can be contained in all genres.

e.     Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.

f.       Fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots.

g.     Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.

h.     Full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), theme(s), major and minor characters, in which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form.

i.       Humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance.

j.       Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject.

k.      Legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods.

l.       Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale.

m.    Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.

n.     Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person.

o.     Public address or discourse.

p.     Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.

q.     Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.

r.       Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets.

s.      Story that can actually happen and is true to life.

t.       Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.

u.     Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material.

v.      The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth.

w.    Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses.

1.             Biography/Autobiography

2.             Drama

3.             Essay

4.             Fable

5.             Fairy Tale

6.             Fantasy

7.             Fiction

8.             Fiction in Verse

9.             Folklore

10.         Historical Fiction

11.         Horror

12.         Humor

13.         Legend

14.         Mystery

15.         Mythology

16.         Narrative Nonfiction

17.         Nonfiction

18.         Poetry

19.         Realistic Fiction

20.         Science Fiction

21.         Short Story

22.         Speech

23.         Tall Tale

Genres

Test-Answer key

1.     Drama
Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.

2.     Fable
Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale.

3.     Fairy Tale
Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.

4.     Fantasy
Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.

5.     Fiction
Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.

6.     Fiction in Verse
Full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), theme(s), major and minor characters, in which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form.

7.     Folklore
The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth.

8.     Historical Fiction
Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.

9.     Horror
Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.

10. Humor
Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain; but can be contained in all genres.

11. Legend
Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material.

12. Mystery
Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets.

13. Mythology
Legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods.

14. Poetry
Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses.

15. Realistic Fiction
Story that can actually happen and is true to life.

16. Science Fiction
Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets.

17. Short Story
Fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots.

18. Tall Tale
Humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance.

19. Biography/Autobiography
Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person.

20. Essay
A short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point.

21. Narrative Nonfiction
Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.

22. Nonfiction
Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject.

23. Speech
Public address or discourse.