literary genres
DESCRIPTION
PowerPoint on Literary Genres we will write and readTRANSCRIPT
Writing Genres
Different styles of writing
Non-fiction writing
AutobiographyO A story about an author’s own lifeO Usually includes significant events O Is usually fairly longO Characterized by the use of first-
person pronouns (I, me, we, mine, ours, etc.)
BiographyO A story about someone’s life written
by someone elseO Usually includes significant detailsO Is usually a longer workO Characterized by third-person
pronouns (he, she, they, their, his, hers)
Expository WritingO Writing that EXPLAINS by presenting
one of the following:O Presenting stepsO Cause and effectO Types of somethingO Compare/contrastO LettersO MemosO EmailsO Think five-paragraph essay
Narrative/MemoirO Smaller version of autobiographyO Focuses on only one/few events
Persuasive WritingO The author tries to convince or
persuade the reader to do something, think a certain way, or believe an idea
O Usually tries to get you to agree with the author’s ideas
O Speeches, commercials (propaganda), politics, etc.
Response to LiteratureO Writing that is a summary or a
reaction to something the writer has read (novel, short story, poem, article, book, etc.)
O Think book reports, summaries, paraphrases, reading responses, etc.
Fictional Writing
FableO A short story that often uses animals
as the main charactersO Usually teaches a lesson or a moralO Usually has only one problem/conflict
to overcomeO Think Aesop
FantasyO A story set in an imaginary land or timeO Some characters have supernatural
powers/abilities (wizards, witches, dragons, etc.)
O Mythical beings/creatures are usually involved
O The protagonist (hero) goes on a journey to rescue someone or fight some evil. They are often accompanied by friends/mentors, but must face the final evil alone
Historical FictionO Made-up story based on actual
historical eventsO Characters may be made up or real
peopleO The facts of the event are shown
through a fictional storyO Wars/politics use this often
NovelO Fictional story containing
O Several charactersO Well-developed plotO Universal themesO Several types of conflict
O This piece of writing is usually longer (150 pages and up)
Play (Drama)O Story that uses dialogue to tell a
storyO Is meant to be performed in front of
an audience by actorsO Characterized by the format that is
used (Character: Dialogue, stage directions)
PoemO Writing that uses figurative language
and is more rhythmic than prose (Prose is everything but poetry)
O Figurative language includes such things as imagery, repetition, metaphors, similes, personification, etc.
O Characterized by usually being very short, concise pieces and by the first letter of each line being capitalized
Science FictionO Writing based on real or imaginary
scienceO Often set in the futureO Can occur on distant lands
throughout the universeO Think Star Wars
Tall Tale/LegendO Often treated as one, they are two similar but
distinct writingsO Tall Tale:
O Humorous, EXAGGERATED story about a character that does impossible things
O Can be a real or fictional characterO Legend:
O Told to explain some phenomenon or mystical event
O Passed down orally throughout generationsO Also told to keep people from doing certain
things (ghost stories)
TragedyO A story in which the hero is
destroyed in the end (either physically or mentally)
O The hero often has some fatal flaw that causes his/her downfall
O The hero will often save the day, but die in the process for the greater good of humanity