Literary Genres
Pamela P. Hayes
997-91-1588
LM 506
Mrs. Courington
What does genre mean?
• A category of artistic work that can be
divided on the basis of form, style or
subject
• In the library genre pertains to a kind or
type of literature that has a common set
of characteristics
Genres of Fiction
• Realism
• Formula Fiction
• Fantasy
• Poetry
• Traditional Literature
• Informational Books
• Classics
Realism
• A story based on what is possible,
but the story line may not be likely.
• Stories in this genre are real to life
for the readers.
• Can you think of any examples?
Basic Types of Realism
 Realistic Stories – deals with real problems that people do
face
 Animal Realism – animals are viewed in realistic situation
 Historical Realism – setting in the past; accurate to the
history
 Sports Stories – characters involved in and struggles with
personal issues that are probable
Formula Fiction
Formula Fiction – this type of writing
follows a distinctive pattern; a plan or
method of writing a story
Best example – Nancy Drew or Hardy
Boys Books
Types of Formula Fiction
Mysteries and Thrillers – suspense of
unexplained events that is resolved by reason.
Romantic Stories – usually oversimplifies and
sentimentalizes the male-female relationship.
Series Books – stories published as part of a
series that are held together by a string central
character or theme.
Fantasy
Fantasy –
creates another world of
imagination or of the
supernatural for characters and
readers.
Animals can have human
qualities
High Fantasy- are stories of
good versus evil such as in the
Types of Fantasy
Fantastic Stories – realistic in
many details nut require us to
suspend our disbelief in the
unbelievable.
High Fantasy – characterized by
the conflict of good against evil.
Science Fiction – stresses
scientific laws and technological
inventions to lend an atmosphere
of credibility to the story.
Familiar Stories of Fantasy
A Wrinkle in Time
Tuck Everlasting
Matilda
James and the Giant Peach
Poetry
Poetry – artistic imaginative writing often times
giving away ones feelings.
Poetry can rhyme or not.
What poem do you recall?
Poetry
What is Poetry? Who knows?
Not a rose, but the sent of the rose;
Not the sky, but the light of the sky;
Not the fly, but the gleam of the fly;
Not the sea, but the sound of the sea;
Not myself, but what makes me
See, hear, and feel something that prose
Cannot: and what it is, who knows?
-------Eleanor Farjeon
Traditional Literature
Traditional Literature – exists often
times orally rather than in writing.
We all have our oral stories that our
families have shared.
Types of Traditional Literature
 Fables – a brief story, usually with animal
characters with a moral or lesson.
 Folktales – easily recognizable flat characters
 Myths – stories that originate in (religious)
beliefs in which supernatural forces operate.
 Legends – Similar to myths with more historical
truth and less supernatural happenings.
 Folk Epics – long narrative poem with a central
heroic figure.
List of Traditional Literature
Cyclops
Jason and the Golden Fleece
Favorite Tales from Grimm
Pecos Bill
Canterbury Tales
Little Red Riding Hood
Informational Books
Informational Books – these are
nonfiction books or biographies written
with high artistry.
Research
Biographies on American Icons
Walt Disney
Billy Graham
Elvis Presley
Howard Hughes
Bob Hope
Classics
Classics – books that have attracted
readers through time and cross all
genre lines.
Classics You May Know
Little Women
The Count of Monte Cristo
Tom Sawyer
A Christmas Carol
Two Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Around the World in Eighty Days
So where can you find these titles?
In the media center
Open before school
All day long
And after the school day is done
……..so if you need us, we are here for you
and your students.