This document categorizes and defines different genres of literature including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. It divides fiction into genres such as fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, realistic fiction, and science fiction. Non-fiction genres include biography, autobiography, essays, textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, and more. Poetry genres include free verse, structured poems, haiku, cinquain, and other forms. Each genre is concisely defined.
4. Poet ry
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Free Verse Structured
List poem Couplet
Poemof address Haiku
Narrative poem Cinquain
Diamante
Acrostic
Biopoem
5. FANTASY
A story that isimaginative, but could neverreally
happen. The setting maybe of another world.
Characters might be magical.
Fiction
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6. HISTORICAL FICTION
A story that takes place in ahistorically accurate time
and setting. The characters and someevents are
fictional.
Fiction
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7. MYSTERY
A story that usually involvessuspenseand the solvingof
acrime. Clues are typicallygiventhroughout the story
to solvethe mysteryat the end of the book.
Fiction
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8. REALISTIC FICTION
A story that seemsreal or could happen in real life. It is
set in present dayand includes modern dayproblems
and events.
Fiction
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9. SCIENCE FICTION
A story that istypically set in the future or on other
planets. It isbasedon the impact of actual, imagined, or
potential science.
Fiction
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10. ADVENTURE
A story where aprotagonist and other major
characters and are placed in dangerous situations. The
characters must usetheir wit and skillsto defeat the
antagonist.
Fiction
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12. FABLE
A brief story that ismeant to tell alessonor amoral.
The characters are usually animalswith human
characteristics.
Fiction:
Folktale
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13. FAIRY TALE
A story that hasmagicalelements.The characters are
usually fairies, giants, elves,and other magical
creatures.
Fiction:
Folktale
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14. LEGEND
A story usually about anational or folk hero. This story
takes place in aparticular time and place and ispartly
true and partly fiction. The character traits of the
hero are typically exaggerated.
Fiction:
Folktale
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15. TALL TALE
A humorous story with extreme exaggerations. The
main character, or hero, usually does impossiblethings
with ease.
Fiction:
Folktale
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16. MYTH
A story that isoften basedon ahistorical event that is
meant to serveasanexplanation for somephenomenon
of nature or human behavior. Characters are usually
gods.
Fiction:
Folktale
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17. LIST POEM
A poemthat isbasedon alist or catalog of somesort.
Poetry:
Free Verse
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18. POEM OF ADDRESS
A poemthat iswritten to somebodyor something. It is
not about that person or thing.
Poetry:
Free Verse
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19. NARRATIVE POEM
A poemthat iswritten from adifferent point of view.
First person poems use the word “I”.It is personal
because anindividual isspeakingto us. Second person
poems use the word “you”. It is intimate because it is
like speakingto someonein the room. Third person
poems use words such as “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, etc. It
islike speakingto someonewho isnot there with you.
Poetry:
Free Verse
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20. COUPLET
A form of poetry that usestwo linesthat rhyme.
Poetry:
Structure
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21. HAIKU
A type of poetry from the Japaneseculture. It
consists of three lines. The first line hasfive syllables,
the second hassevensyllables,and the third hasfive
syllables.Haiku does not rhyme. It ismeant to paint a
mental image.Haikus are typicallyabout nature.
Poetry:
Structure
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22. CINQUAIN
A cinquain isafive line poem.
Line 1:one word (subject or noun)
Line 2:two words (adjectives) that describe line 1
Line 3:three words (action verbs) that relate to line1
Line 4:four words (feelings or acomplete sentence)
that relates to line 1
Line 5:one word (synonymof line 1or aword that
sumsit up)
Poetry:
Structure
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23. DIAMANTE
A sevenline poemin the shapeof a diamond.
Line 1:one word (subject/noun that iscontrasting to line 7)
Line 2:two words (adjectives) that describe line 1
Line 3:three words (action verbs)that relate to line 1
Line 4:four words (nouns) first 2words relate to line 1last
2words relate to line 7
Line 5:three words (action verbs)that relate to line 7
Line 6:two words (adjectives) that describe line 7
Line 7: one word ( subject/noun that iscontrasting to line
1)
Poetry:
Structure
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24. ACROSTIC
A poemin which the first letters of each line spella
special word.
Poetry:
Structure
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25. BIOPOEM
A poemin which aperson isdescribed in eleven lines.
(First name)-
(Four adjectives)
(Brother of or Sister of)
Lover of (three different things that the person loves)
Who feels (three different feelingsand when or where they are felt)
Who gives(three different things the person gives)
Who fears (three different fears the person has)
Who would like to see(three different things the person would like to see)
Who lives(abrief description of where the person lives)
-(Last name)
Poetry:
Structure
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26. BIOGRAPHY
A history o f someone’s life, or part o f someone’s life.
This isatrue story about arealperson.
Non-
Fiction
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28. ESSAY
A short composition, usually written from the author’s
point of view. Essayscan be persuasive, comparative,
literary criticism, political manifestos, arguments,
observations, recollections, or reflections.
Non-
Fiction
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29. HOW-TO
An instructional form of writing that demonstrateshow
to do atask, activity, procedure, etc.
Non-
Fiction
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30. TEXTBOOK
A manual of instruction or standard book in any
branch of study. Textbooks are usually written
according to educational demands.
Non-
Fiction
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31. ENCYCLOPEDIA
A comprehensive written work that isused asa
reference. It contains articles on various topics and
branches of knowledge.
Non-
Fiction
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32. MAGAZINE
A periodical that contains articles, pictures,
advertisements, stories, etc. that ispublished on a
regular schedule.
Non-
Fiction
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33. RESEARCH REPORT
An informational, objective piece of writing basedon
multiple accurate references.
Non-
Fiction
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34. ALMANAC
An annual publication that contains tabular information
in aparticular field(s) according to the calendar.
Information such asastronomical data, the rising and
setting of the sun and moon, eclipses,hours of the tide,
etc.
Non-
Fiction
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35. NEWSPAPER
A publication containing news,information, current
events, and advertising. There are feature articles on
topics such aspolitical events, crime, business,
art/entertainment, society, and sports. Many
newspapersalsoinclude someeditorial columns. Other
sections include advertising, comics, and coupons.
Non-
Fiction
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36. ATLAS
A collection of mapsof Earth, or parts of Earth. The
atlas presents geographic features, political boundaries,
and geopolitical, social, religious, and economic
statistics.
Non-
Fiction
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37. MEMOIR
A type o f an autobiography. It is a writer’s own account
of one or two important events and istold in the first
person. It isdescriptive and highly personal.
Non-
Fiction
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38. BROCHURE
A pamphlet or leaflet advertisement. Brochures may
advertise locations, events, hotels, products, services,
etc. They are usually brief in language and have aneye-
catching design.
Non-
Fiction
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39. EDITORIAL
An article that isusually in anewspaperor magazine,or
on television or the radio. This article expresses the
author’s personal opinion and view on a particular topic.
Non-
Fiction
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40. ADVERTISEMENT
A public promotion of aproduct or service. It isa
form of communication used to help sellthese
products or services. It usually describes how the
products or servicescan benefit the customer.
Non-
Fiction
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