This document defines and describes various genres of literature. It discusses the key differences between fiction and non-fiction, and provides examples of specific genres including biography, autobiography, realistic fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, high fantasy, mystery, folktales, fables, legends, myths, and classics. Each genre is defined in one to three sentences explaining its form and typical elements.

1. Genre: a distinctive category
of literary composition
Literature Genre: marked by
distinctive style, form and content.
One is just right for YOU!

2. Are You for Real?
NON-FICTION: real, factual, deals
with actual people, places, and
events
FICTION: unreal, not true, not factual,
a made up story

3. Biography
Story of a real person’s life
Form of nonfiction (true)
Bios means life
Graphe means to write
Author must do research by
interviewing the subject or those who
knew the subject

4. Realistic Fiction
Form of fiction (not true)
Accurately reflects life as it could be lived
today
Everything in the story could happen to real
people living in our natural physical world
The characters have normal human
characteristics
Story may be set in real places, but the
story is NOT based on history

5. Autobiography
Form of nonfiction (true)
Story of a real person’s life
Auto means self
Bios means life
Graphe means to write
Written by the person the story is about
Author does not need to do research
Author shares how he/she feels and what
he/she thinks

6. Historical Fiction
Form of fiction (not true)
Based on historical events
Authentic settings
Characters portrayed in realistic
manner
Some characters may be actual
people from history, but the story is
fictional
Artistic mix of fiction and historical

7. Science Fiction
Form of fiction (not true)
Contains some sort of scientific
element, such as
Outer space
Medicine
Technology
Within the realm of possibility
Characters have some believable
traits/qualities

8. Fantasy
Form of fiction (not true)
Contains one or more of the following:
supernatural occurrences
characters with magical powers
things with magical powers
animals with human characteristics
real people in fantastic places
fantastic creatures or characters in real
situations

9. High Fantasy
Form of fiction (not real)
Good vs. evil (supernatural/evil forces)
Story written in a series of books/ volumes
Coming- of- age themes
Include fantastical elements, such as:
Elves and dwarves
Magic
Wizards
Invented languages
quests

10. Mystery
Form of fiction (not true)
Story revolves around a puzzle/problem
Characters deal with the solution to a
puzzle/problem, such as
finding a missing item/person
unraveling a secret
rationalize an event that is not explained
Contains clues/hints that help the
characters and readers solve the
puzzle/problem

11. Folktales
Form of fiction (not true)
Story that teaches a lesson
Contain the beliefs and customs of a
region or country
Original story is modified to make it
more interesting or more humorous
Present larger-than-life characters
and very unusual happenings

12. Fables
Form of fiction (not true)
Type of folktale
Ends in a moral or lesson
Characters are animals that talk and
act like humans
A character usually represents a
single human characteristic, such as
a fox being symbolic of a trickster

13. Legend
Form of fiction (not true)
Stories written about a real life hero
and his/her mighty deeds
Mix of fiction and historical facts that
have been creatively altered to
encourage moral conduct and right
choices
Leaves questions/wonder in the
reader’s minds (Did Mike Fink really
wrestle a grizzly bear?)

14. Myths
Form of fiction (not true)
Pertains to the actions of the gods
and/or goddesses
Characters are super-natural beings
with human emotions and qualities
Plot may involve interplay between
worlds (this world and
previous/original world)

15. Classics
Form of fiction (not true)
Timelessness: enjoyed by readers from
generation to generation
Deals with universal themes and
experiences that relate to readers, such as:
love conquers all
good vs. evil
rags to riches
Communicates ideas across cultures
Unforgettable characters