part 2: drama and folklore. after this lesson… students will classify a literary work as a...
TRANSCRIPT
Classifying Literature:Classifying Literature:Genres and Subgenres Genres and Subgenres
Part 2:
Drama
And
Folklore
After This Lesson…
Students will classify a literary work as a specific genre by applying context clues and justify their reasoning by citing evidence.
Genre:Genre:
DramaDrama
Writing that appears as a script
What is Drama?
A script used to tell a story on stage (play) or in film (movie or TV show)
Relies on dialogue (spoken words)
There are two subgenres of Drama: Comedy Tragedy
Subgenre: Comedy
Story that uses humor
Usually has a happy ending
Upbeat, bright language
Comedy Examples Midsummer Night's Dream Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead Much Ado About Nothing The Importance of Being Ernest
Subgenre: Tragedy
Very serious, somber tone
Usually ends in death and sadness
Dark, foreboding language
Tragedy Examples
Romeo and Juliet
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Genre:Genre:
FolkloreFolklore
Stories that were handed down through oral tradition
What is Folklore?Usually has an “unknown” author or will be
“retold” or “adapted” by the author.
There are 5 subgenres of Folklore:Tall TalesMythsFablesLegendFairy Tale
Subgenre: Tall TalesSet in the Wild West or American Frontier
Skills/size/strength of main characters are greatly exaggerated
Exaggeration is humorous
Tall Tale Examples
Pecos Bill
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox
John Henry
Daniel Boone
Subgenre: MythsTells a story of the Gods/Goddesses
Roman or Greek origin
Usually tells of the creation of something
Myths Examples
HerculesPersephoneThe TitansHelen of Troy
Subgenre: FablesShort stories
Animals are personified (given human traits)
Each story has a moral (a lesson or message)
Fables Examples
The Tortoise and the Hare
The Fox and the Grapes Brer Rabbit and the Tar
Baby
Subgenre: Legend
Based on a real person or place
Facts are stretched beyond non-fiction
Exaggerations are serious
Legend Examples
The Iliad and The Odyssey
Beowulf
Jason and the Argonauts
Subgenre: Fairy Tale
Contains stories of magic and/or talking animals
Usually begins “Once upon a time…”
Like fantasy, but is much older
Often has a human main character
Fairy Tale Examples Many classic Disney movies
Cinderella, Snow White, etc.
Rapunzel Rumpelstiltskin Hansel and Gretl
PracticPractic
ee
1. Each slide will describe a piece of writing.
2. You will write the genre and subgenre in your notes.
1 “Story of Robin Hood” by unknown
Robin Hood is a highly-skilled archer and outlaw who actually existed. He is known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" assisted by a group of outlaws known as his "Merry Men". There are many songs and stories about him. Though he was a real person, many
of the facts surrounding him have been distorted or greatly exaggerated.
Genre: ________________________________________
Subgenre: _____________________________________
2 Story of Achilles by unknown
During the Trojan War, Achilles was the Greek's best warrior. His mother, assisted by the gods, held him by his heel when she dipped him in the River Styx
making him immortal everywhere but his heel.
Genre: _________________________________________
Subgenre: ______________________________________
3 Hamlet by William Shakespeare
A play about Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who was devastated by his father's death. Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, who tells him that his uncle, Claudius poisoned him and that is how he died. Hamlet is enraged and seeks revenge on Claudius, who married Hamlet’s mother in order to get at the crown, which rightfully
belonged to Hamlet. One day, Hamlet engages in a dual with his true love Ophelia's brother Laertes. However, Hamlet does not know that Laertes and the king have secretly plotted revenge
against Hamlet for killing Laertes' and Ophelia's father. The king poisoned a glass of wine and Laertes poisoned his sword, one of
which would surely kill the Prince. However, things go amiss when the Queen drinks the poisoned wine and falls dead. Laertes slices Hamlet's arm with his poisoned sword. He slays king Claudius, and also Laertes when he discovers the sword had poisoned him. They
all die in the end.
Genre: _________________________________________________________________
Subgenre: _______________________________________________________________
4 “The Ant & The Grasshopper” Adapted by Chad
Peplum
The really short story of an Ant who works hard all summer to prepare for winter and a Grasshopper
who just plays. Winter comes and the Grasshopper freezes to death. The moral is
“prepare today for tomorrow’s needs.”
Genre: _________________________________________
Subgenre: ______________________________________
5 “The Lion and the Mouse” by unknown
A lion almost eats a mouse that woke him, but the mouse begs forgiveness and promises to return the favor. The lion lets the mouse go. Later, the lion is
captured by hunters and tied to a tree; the lion roars for help. The mouse hears the lion's pleas and frees
him by gnawing through the ropes. The last line of the story is: “Little friends may prove great friends.”
Genre: ________________________________________
Subgenre: _____________________________________
6 Davy Crockett and the Frozen Dawn retold by S. E. Schlosser
One winter, it was so cold that the dawn froze solid. Davy Crockett was headed home after a successful
night hunting and had a freshly killed bear on his back. He whipped it off, climbed right up on those rays of
sunlight and began beating the hot bear carcass against the ice blocks which were squashing the sun.
Soon a gush of hot oil burst out of the bear, and it melted the ice. Davy gave the sun a good hard kick to get it started, and the sun's heat unfroze the earth and
started it spinning again.
Genre: ____________________________
Subgenre: _________________________