Short Story: Genres “If a story is in you it has got to come out” ~ William Faulkner
Short Story: Genres
“If a story is in you it has got to come out” ~ William Faulkner
Group Brainstorm
In your group … brainstorm as many musical genres
as you can … GO!
Literary Genres
Just like music has genres, so does literature.
Sooooo, let’s try this again with literature in mind.
Drama
Historical
Science Fiction
Comedy
Mystery/Thriller
Fantasy
Biographical
Western
Fable
FictionNon-Fiction
Adventure
Characteristics of Genres
Each genre has specific characteristics,
devices, style that fit within that genre
(just like music)
Two Main Categories …
Fiction False
Figment
Events did not happen
Examples: Fantasy, fable, myth,
legend, realistic fiction, folk tale
Non-Fiction True
Real
Events really happened
Examples: biography,
autobiography, instruction
manual, memoirs
Fairy Tales
“Once upon a time …”
Difficult, seemingly impossible problem
to solve
Tell a moral or lesson to be learned
Often include characters with magical
powers
Imaginary characters (ie. Dragons,
fairies …)
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI-LX4hKbPAhVJ4oMKHXvqDnUQjRwIBw&url=http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Tinker_Bell&bvm=bv.133700528,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNGNr7DHVefQ19PdWZ3UXMZL-P0-6w&ust=1474738975093160http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI-LX4hKbPAhVJ4oMKHXvqDnUQjRwIBw&url=http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Tinker_Bell&bvm=bv.133700528,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNGNr7DHVefQ19PdWZ3UXMZL-P0-6w&ust=1474738975093160
Cinderella~ Brothers Grimm
Horror Written to frighten, scare, or
disgust the reader
Uses dark, eerie, or gloomy language
May deal with the supernatural or the dark side of human nature
Ghosts, haunted houses, murder
The Tell Tale Heart ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI0cWecfoak
Love Written to display a specific kind of love
A problem that may prevent the two from falling in love or being
together
Full of emotion
Written to explain qualities that the emotion of love can bring out in
humans
The Gift of the Magi ~ O. Henry
Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEYKlV0vkIs
Human Nature
Story that tells us something about innate qualities of humans
Usually have a twist or unexpected ending
Reveal a specific idea/though about how humans behave (ie.
good vs. evil)
Written to remind us that we are all capable of such actions
Lamb to the Slaughter~ Ronald Dahl
Watch the video: https://vimeo.com/126942406
Science Fiction
often based on scientific principles and technology
may make predictions about life in the future
often deals with aliens or with life on other worlds
can comment on important issues in society
There Will Come Soft Rains ~ Ray Bradbury
Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNHYz89sNc