Literature can be
divided into 2 groups:
Fiction
Nonfiction
FICTION
Fiction books include any literature that is not fact
based. Fiction books are made up by the author. The
story, characters, or setting have been created by the
author. There are many kinds of fiction:
Folktales
Poetry
NONFICTION
Nonfiction books include any literature that is factual or
real. The events and people that happen in the story
are real. Nonfiction books can also give factual
information or describe how to do something. There
are many different types of nonfiction books:
Newspapers
Textbooks
autobiographies
Encyclopedias
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDhUmn4IZ78
Traditional Literature
•Traditional Literature are folktales, legends,
myths, and fables that people told one
another over the years.
•Later the stories were written down.
•Myths, legends and folktales are hard to
classify between each other and often
overlap.
• Foundation for fantasy
Examples of Trad. Lit.
•Charlotte’s Web
•Robin Hood
•King Arthur and His Knights
Realistic Fiction
•Realistic fiction is made up of stories that could
really happen.
•Realistic fiction contains characters, settings that
seem very realistic.
•The plot seems believable.
Examples of Realistic Fiction
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Because of Winn Dixie
The Outsiders
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Shiloh
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Fault in Our Stars
Historical Fiction
•Historical fiction is made up of stories that take
place in a certain time and place in the past.
• Real historical figures and settings may be
included in a fiction story.
•Historical fiction can be based on real events.
Examples of Historical Fiction
•American Girl series
•To Kill a Mockingbird
•The Grapes of Wrath
•The movie Titanic
•The Book Thief
Fantasy
•Definition: Fantasy is made up stories that are impossible to
take place in this world dealing with magic (magic powers,
magic characters, etc.)
•Elements: Fantasy is fiction that has elements that are not
real.
• Elements: Sometimes this includes talking animals or
characters with magical powers.
•Extra: In fantasy, there is usually a conflict between good
and evil.
Examples of Fantasy
•The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
•Lord of the Rings
•Harry Potter
•The Lightning Thief
Science Fiction
• Definition: Science Fiction is made up of
stories that blend fact and fiction with
futuristic technology.
• Element: it is important to remember that
they are often set in the future, in space, on a
different world, or in a different universe or
dimension.
• Extra: Sometimes science fiction can seem
very realistic
Examples of Science Fiction
• Maximum Ride
• The Hunger Games
• The Maze Runner
• Divergent
• I am Number Four
What’s the Difference?
• The difference between Fantasy and
Science Fiction is…
• Fantasy cannot happen in this world
• Science Fiction could possibly happen
in this world in the future
• Fantasy – magic – could happen
anytime
• Science Fiction – Technological
advances – futuristic
Mystery
• Definition: Mysteries have a problem to be
solved that includes:
- clues, distractions, and an answer to the
problem.
• Elements: Mysteries are stories that have a
realistic setting and realistic characters.
Examples of Mystery
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Nancy Drew series
The Hardy Boy series
Boxcar Children series
The Case of the ….
Sherlock Holmes
Poetry
Is poetry fiction or nonfiction?
Poetry is really in its own category…
• Poetry is a special type of genre in which the author
pays particular attention to the expression of
thoughts and ideas through rhyme and rhythm.
• Poetry can also be written in free verse that does not
rhyme, and it can be based on real facts, events, or
people… so it could be either fiction or nonfiction
depending on the poem!
Examples of Poetry
• Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends
• Green Eggs and Ham
• The Raven
• The Night Before Christmas
Nonfiction - Informational
• Definition: Informational books are nonfiction
books that give true facts on a variety of
subjects.
• Elements: The primary purpose of informational
texts is to convey information on a particular
subject.
• Extra: Informational Texts are often called
Expository
Examples of
Informational Texts
• Newspapers articles
• Encyclopedias
• School Textbooks
• Magazines
• Subjects can include
animals, sports, and
events
Biography
• Definition: A biography is the true story of a
real person’s life from the past or present.
• Definition: A biography is an account of
someone’s life written by someone else.
Examples of Biography
Autobiography
• Definition: An account of a person’s life, written by
that person
• Elements: Autobiographies are usually very general –
recounting a person’s entire life.
• Extra: In an autobiography, the author is usually
trying to describe the whole arc of his or her life,
describing where they come from, their influences,
their achievents, etc.
Examples of Autobiography
Memoirs
What’s the difference between an autobiography and a
memoir?
• An autobiography focuses on the chronology of the
writer’s entire life while a memoir covers one specific
aspect of the writer’s life.
• Definition: In a narrative or memoir, the author is
usually focused more on relating interesting events
that they experienced and is usually much more
narrative in style than an autobiography.
Examples of Memoirs