6. Characteristics of
Mysteries
• Usually, something strange happens . . . like
something is stolen or disappears, or worse yet
someone is killed.
• A detective tries to solve the mystery to find out
who did it.
• Clues lead the detective to solve the mystery.
9. Characteristics of Realistic
Fiction
• It seems like it could happen today.
• Characters seem like real people.
• It usually happens in a common place.
12. Characteristics of Historical
Fiction
• The story happens at a DIFFERENT time in
history (WWII, the Wild West, the Depression).
• It could have happened as the story was written.
15. Characteristics of Fantasy or
Science Fiction
• Something in the book happens that
couldn’t happen in real life.
• May include magic, ghosts, and talking
animals.
18. Characteristics of Fairy Tales or
Folklore
• Often begin with “Once upon a time” or end
with “Happily ever after.”
• Include magical characters.
• Characters are “good” or “bad.”
• Are available in many different versions
because of their spoken storytelling
tradition.
24. Characteristics of Tall Tales
• Trickery or cleverness
• Adventure (often from our country’s
westward expansion)
• Larger than life qualities often based on a
real person
• Exaggeration used to make it entertaining
