This document discusses different literary genres used to categorize books. It divides genres into three major categories: fiction, nonfiction, and other. Under fiction genres it lists fantasy, historical fiction, horror, humor, mystery/suspense, realistic fiction, science fiction, short story, and traditional literature. Nonfiction genres include essay, informational, and literary nonfiction. Other genres are drama and poetry. Examples are provided for each genre to help explain the definitions.

1. LITERARY GENRES
How do you organize books?

2. Literary Genres
Definition: categories used to group different
types of literary work, such as nonfiction,
fiction, fantasy, informational, and poetry
What are some other types of genres?

3. Three Major Categories
Genre
Fiction Nonfiction Other

4. Genre - Fiction
Fantasy Historical Fiction Horror
Humor Mystery/Suspense Realistic Fiction
Science Fiction Short Story
Traditional
Literature

5. Fantasy
 A story based on
things that could
NOT happen in real
life (talking animals,
magic, etc.).
 What FANTASY
books have you
read?
Definition Examples

6. Historical Fiction
 A fictional story that
takes place in a
particular time period
in the past. Often the
setting is real, but the
characters are made
up from the author’s
imagination.
 What HISTORICAL
FICTION books have
you read?
Definition Examples

7. Horror
 A story which is
intended to, or has
the capacity to
frighten its readers,
inducing feelings of
horror and terror. It
creates an eerie
atmosphere.
 What HORROR
books have you read?
Definition Examples

8. Humor
 A story full of fun,
fancy, and
excitement meant to
entertain the reader.
 What HUMOROUS
books have you
read?
Definition Examples

9. Mystery/Suspense
 A suspenseful story
about a puzzling
event that is not
solved until the end
of the story.
 What MYSTERY or
SUSPENSE books
have you read?
Definition Examples

10. Realistic Fiction
 A story using made-
up characters that
could happen in real
life.
 What REALISTIC
FICTION books
have you read?
Definition Examples

11. Science Fiction
 A story in which the
imaginary elements
could be
scientifically
possible (robots,
time machines,
etc.).
 What SCIENCE
FICTION books
have you read?
Definition Examples

12. Short Story
 A work of fiction that
presents a
sequence of events,
or plot, that deals
with a conflict.
 What SHORT
STORIES have you
read?
Definition Examples

13. Traditional Literature
 Stories that are
passed down from
one group to another
in history. This
includes folktales,
legends, fables, fairy
tales, tall tales, and
myths from different
cultures.
 What TRADITIONAL
LITERATURE books
have you read?
Definition Examples

14. Genre - Nonfiction
Essay Informational
Literary
Nonfiction

15. Essay
 A short literary
composition on a
single subject.
 What ESSAYS have
you read or written?
Definition Examples

16. Informational
 Texts that provide
facts & information
about a variety of
topics.
 What
INFORMATIONAL
books have you
read?
Definition Examples

17. Literary Nonfiction
 Nonfiction that tells
a story.
 What LITERARY
NONFICTION books
have you read?
Definition Examples

18. Other Genres
Drama Poetry

19. Drama
 Literature that is
intended to be
performed before an
audience; a play or
opera.
 What DRAMAS
have you read or
watched?
Definition Examples

20. Poetry
 Poetry is verse written
to create a response
of thought and feeling
from the reader. It
often uses rhythm
and rhyme to help
convey its meaning.
 What POETRY books
have you read?
Definition Examples

21. Genres
 Everything written can be
placed in genre!
 Can you think of books that
can be placed in more than
one genre?