Literary genres

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