Literary Genres
Definition:
categories used
to group
different types of
literary works
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.
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
Non-Fiction Recommendations
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind:
Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
by William Kamkwamba
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Non-Fiction Recommendations
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
by Phillip Hoose
Non-Fiction Recommendations
Red Scarf Girl
by Ji-Li Jiang
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Different types of fiction
Historical Fiction: These
stories take 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.
Historical Fiction Recommendations
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Historical Fiction Recommendations
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
by John Boyne
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Historical Fiction Recommendations
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
Realistic Fiction: These stories
usually present 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.
Realistic Fiction Recommendations
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kinney
Realistic Fiction Recommendations
The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton
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Realistic Fiction Recommendations
Stargirl
by Jerry Spinelli
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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.
Science Fiction Recommendations
Ender’s Game
by Orson Scott Card
Science Fiction Recommendations
The Uglies series
by Scott Westerfeld
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Science Fiction Recommendations
Among the Hidden
by Margaret Haddix Peterson
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Mystery: There are
different types of mystery
stories, but usually a crime
has been committed, and
the reader wants to figure
out “whodunit”. There is
usually a great deal of
suspense, and intrigue
abounds.
Mystery Recommendations
Rebecca
by Daphne du Maurier
Mystery Recommendations
I Know What You Did Last Summer
by Lois Duncan
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Mystery Recommendations
And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
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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.
These stories may include
magical beings, talking
animals, and/or gods and
goddesses.
Fantasy Recommendations
The Harry Potter series
by J.K. Rowling
Fantasy Recommendations
The Princess Bride
by William Goldman
Fantasy Recommendations
The Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis
Traditional Literature
These are ancient
stories or poems of
many cultures that
originate in the oral, or
storytelling, tradition.
•Fables: These stories usually
have a moral that is being taught.
They also often use animals that
speak and act like humans.
•Myths: These are stories 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.
Traditional Literature
Recommendations
The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
Traditional Literature
Recommendations
The Young Merlin Trilogy
by Jane Yolen
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Traditional Literature
Recommendations
Beowulf
Translated by Seamus Heaney
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Classic Literature
These books actually fall
into many genres. Their
commonality is that
they have all stood the
test of time. People
liked them then, and
we like them now.
Classic Literature
Recommendations
Emma
by Jane Austen
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Classic Literature
Recommendations
The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
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Classic Literature
Recommendations
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
Graphic Novels
These are stories told in
comic-book style and
published in book
format.
Graphic Novel Recommendations
Maus
by Art Spiegelman
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Graphic Novel Recommendations
Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness
by Donn Fendler
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Graphic Novel Recommendations
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
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Bibliography
Children’s Literature Genres,
http://www.alpine.k12.ut.us/depts/media/ele
mlessons_rev/m4collections/lesson2cl_genre.html
Genre Study: A Collaborative Approach,
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson
_view.asp?id=270
Dictionary.com, http://www.dictionary.com
Wordsmyth, http://www.wordsmyth.com