The document categorizes different genres of literature including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Fiction genres include fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, realistic fiction, science fiction, adventure, and folktales. Non-fiction genres include biography, autobiography, essays, encyclopedias, textbooks, how-to guides, magazines, research reports, almanacs, newspapers, atlases, memoirs, brochures, editorials, and advertisements. Poetry genres include free verse, structured poems like couplets, haiku, cinquain, diamante, acrostic, and biopoem.

1. GENRES OF LITERATURE
Fiction Non-Fiction
Poetry
Andrea Curd
RDG 541

2. Fiction
Fantasy Historical Mystery
Fiction
Realistic Science Adventure
Fiction Fiction
Folktales
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3. Non-Fiction
Biography Autobiography Essay
Encyclopedia Textbook How-To
Magazine Research Almanac
Report
Brochure Newspaper Atlas
Memoir Editorial Advertisement
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4. Poetry
Free Verse Structured
List poem Couplet
Poem of address Haiku
Narrative poem Cinquain
Diamante
Acrostic
Biopoem
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5. Fiction
FANTASY
 A story that is imaginative, but could never
really happen. The setting may be of another
world. Characters might be magical.
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6. Fiction
HISTORICAL FICTION
 A story that takes place in a historically accurate time
and setting. The characters and some events are
fictional.
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7. Fiction
MYSTERY
 A story that usually involves suspense and the solving of
a crime. Clues are typically given throughout the story
to solve the mystery at the end of the book.
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8. Fiction
REALISTIC FICTION
 A story that seems real or could happen in real life. It is
set in present day and includes modern day problems
and events.
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9. Fiction
SCIENCE FICTION
 A story that is typically set in the future or on other
planets. It is based on the impact of actual, imagined, or
potential science.
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10. Fiction
ADVENTURE
 A story where a protagonist and other major characters
and are placed in dangerous situations. The characters
must use their wit and skills to defeat the antagonist.
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11. Fiction
FOLKTALES
Fable
Fairy Tale
Legend
Tall Tale
Myth
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12. Fiction:
FABLE Folktale
 A brief story that is meant to tell a lesson or a moral.
The characters are usually animals with human
characteristics.
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13. Fiction:
FAIRY TALE Folktale
 A story that has magical elements. The characters are
usually fairies, giants, elves, and other magical
creatures.
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14. Fiction:
LEGEND Folktale
 A story usually about a national or folk hero. This story
takes place in a particular time and place and is partly
true and partly fiction. The character traits of the hero
are typically exaggerated.
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15. Fiction:
TALL TALE Folktale
 A humorous story with extreme exaggerations. The main
character, or hero, usually does impossible things with
ease.
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16. Fiction:
MYTH Folktale
 A story that is often based on a historical event that is
meant to serve as an explanation for some phenomenon
of nature or human behavior. Characters are usually
gods.
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17. Poetry:
LIST POEM Free Verse
 A poem that is based on a list or catalog of some sort.
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18. Poetry:
POEM OF ADDRESS Free Verse
 A poem that is written to somebody or something. It is
not about that person or thing.
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19. Poetry:
NARRATIVE POEM Free Verse
 A poem that is written from a different point of view.
First person poems use the word “I”. It is personal
because an individual is speaking to us. Second person
poems use the word “you”. It is intimate because it is
like speaking to someone in the room. Third person
poems use words such as “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, etc. It
is like speaking to someone who is not there with you.
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20. Poetry:
COUPLET Structured
 A form of poetry that uses two lines that rhyme.
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21. Poetry:
HAIKU Structured
 A type of poetry from the Japanese culture. It consists
of three lines. The first line has five syllables, the
second has seven syllables, and the third has five
syllables. Haiku does not rhyme. It is meant to paint a
mental image. Haikus are typically about nature.
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22. Poetry:
CINQUAIN Structured
 A cinquain is a five 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 line 1
 Line 4: four words (feelings or a complete sentence)
that relates to line 1
 Line 5: one word (synonym of line 1 or a word that
sums it up)
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23. Poetry:
DIAMANTE Structured
 A seven line poem in the shape of a diamond.
 Line 1: one word (subject/noun that is contrasting 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 2 words relate to line 1 last
2 words 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 is contrasting to line
1)
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24. Poetry:
ACROSTIC Structured
 A poem in which the first letters of each line spell a
special word.
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25. Poetry:
BIOPOEM Structured
 A poem in which a person is described 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 feelings and 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 (a brief description of where the person lives)
 -(Last name)
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26. Non-
BIOGRAPHY Fiction
 A history of someone’s life, or part of someone’s life.
This is a true story about a real person.
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27. Non-
AUTOBIOGRAPHY Fiction
 A biography written by a person about his/her own life
and history.
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28. Non-
ESSAY Fiction
 A short composition, usually written from the author’s
point of view. Essays can be persuasive, comparative,
literary criticism, political manifestos, arguments,
observations, recollections, or reflections.
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29. Non-
HOW-TO Fiction
 An instructional form of writing that demonstrates how
to do a task, activity, procedure, etc.
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30. Non-
TEXTBOOK Fiction
 A manual of instruction or standard book in any branch
of study. Textbooks are usually written according to
educational demands.
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31. Non-
ENCYCLOPEDIA Fiction
 A comprehensive written work that is used as a
reference. It contains articles on various topics and
branches of knowledge.
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32. Non-
MAGAZINE Fiction
 A periodical that contains articles, pictures,
advertisements, stories, etc. that is published on a
regular schedule.
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33. Non-
RESEARCH REPORT Fiction
 An informational, objective piece of writing based on
multiple accurate references.
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34. Non-
ALMANAC Fiction
 An annual publication that contains tabular information
in a particular field(s) according to the calendar.
Information such as astronomical data, the rising and
setting of the sun and moon, eclipses, hours of the tide,
etc.
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35. Non-
NEWSPAPER Fiction
 A publication containing news, information, current
events, and advertising. There are feature articles on
topics such as political events, crime, business,
art/entertainment, society, and sports. Many
newspapers also include some editorial columns. Other
sections include advertising, comics, and coupons.
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36. Non-
ATLAS Fiction
 A collection of maps of Earth, or parts of Earth. The
atlas presents geographic features, political boundaries,
and geopolitical, social, religious, and economic
statistics.
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37. Non-
MEMOIR Fiction
 A type of an autobiography. It is a writer’s own account
of one or two important events and is told in the first
person. It is descriptive and highly personal.
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38. Non-
BROCHURE Fiction
 A pamphlet or leaflet advertisement. Brochures may
advertise locations, events, hotels, products, services,
etc. They are usually brief in language and have an eye-
catching design.
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39. Non-
EDITORIAL Fiction
 An article that is usually in a newspaper or magazine, or
on television or the radio. This article expresses the
author’s personal opinion and view on a particular topic.
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40. Non-
ADVERTISEMENT Fiction
 A public promotion of a product or service. It is a form
of communication used to help sell these products or
services. It usually describes how the products or
services can benefit the customer.
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