Literary Genres

A story. Some are fiction or made up, and others describe events that really occurred.

• biography

• narrative

• poem

• science fiction

An example of non-fiction. A writer tells his or her own life story. Written in 1st person.

• autobiography

• biography

• memoir

The writer writes in 1st person about events from his or her life. It is based on the writers memories.

• realistic fiction

• biography

• memoir

Tells a persons life story. Written in 3rd person by someone different.

• biography

• auto-biography

• narrative

Tells about people that are not alive and events that did not occur, but tells a story that seems like it could occur.

• historical fiction

• science fiction

• realistic fiction

Set in the past and tells about people and events that did not occur It can include real events and people.

• historical fiction

• fantasty

• science fiction

Tells about characters and events not found in real life. It includes talking animals, magic, and strange or otherworldly settings.

• realistic fiction

• fantasy

• science fiction

A type of fantasy. Tells about events the could not occur in the present. Involves scientific elements such as robots or space travel.

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• science fiction

A type of folk-tale, has elements of fantasy, set a long time ago, often has magic, ends with a good triumphing over evil

• fairy tale

• folk tale

• fable

a type of folk tale, short in length, talking animals with clear character traits, teachers a moral or lesson

• folk tale

• fable

• legend