LITERARY GENRES

How do you organize books?

Literary Genres
Definition: categories used to group different
types of literary work, such as nonfiction,
fiction, fantasy, informational, and poetry

What are some other types of genres?

Three Major Categories

Genre

Fiction Nonfiction Other

Genre - Fiction

Fantasy Historical Fiction Horror

Humor Mystery/Suspense Realistic Fiction

Science Fiction Short Story Traditional

Literature
Fantasy

Definition Examples

 A story based on
things that could
NOT happen in real
life (talking animals,
magic, etc.).
 What FANTASY
books have you
read?
Historical Fiction

Definition Examples

 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.
 What HISTORICAL
FICTION books have
you read?
Horror

Definition Examples

 A story which is
intended to, or has
the capacity to
frighten its readers,
inducing feelings of
horror and terror. It
creates an eerie
atmosphere.
 What HORROR
books have you read?
Humor

Definition Examples

 A story full of fun,

fancy, and
excitement meant to
entertain the reader.
 What HUMOROUS
books have you
read?
Mystery/Suspense

Definition Examples

 A suspenseful story
about a puzzling
event that is not
solved until the end
of the story.
 What MYSTERY or
SUSPENSE books
have you read?
Realistic Fiction

Definition Examples

 A story using made-

up characters that
could happen in real
life.
 What REALISTIC
FICTION books
have you read?
Science Fiction

Definition Examples

 A story in which the

imaginary elements
could be
scientifically
possible (robots,
time machines,
etc.).
 What SCIENCE
FICTION books
have you read?
Short Story

Definition Examples

 A work of fiction that

presents a
sequence of events,
or plot, that deals
with a conflict.
 What SHORT
STORIES have you
read?
Traditional Literature

Definition Examples

 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.
 What TRADITIONAL
LITERATURE books
have you read?
Genre - Nonfiction

Essay Informational

Literary
Nonfiction
Essay

Definition Examples

 A short literary
composition on a
single subject.
 What ESSAYS have
you read or written?
Informational

Definition Examples

 Texts that provide

facts & information
about a variety of
topics.
 What
INFORMATIONAL
books have you
read?
Literary Nonfiction

Definition Examples

 Nonfiction that tells

a story.
 What LITERARY
NONFICTION books
have you read?
Other Genres

Drama Poetry
Drama

Definition Examples

 Literature that is
intended to be
performed before an
audience; a play or
opera.
 What DRAMAS
have you read or
watched?
Poetry

Definition Examples

 Poetry is verse written

to create a response
of thought and feeling
from the reader. It
often uses rhythm
and rhyme to help
convey its meaning.
 What POETRY books
have you read?
Genres

 Everything written can be

placed in genre!
 Can you think of books that

can be placed in more than

one genre?