Literary Genres and Their Characteristics

stories that were originally passed down orally and then later written down; these often teach a lesson or have a moral

• folklore

• poetry

• informational

• biography

stories that have a real setting with a problem to be solved; includes clues, distractions, and an answer to the problem

• folklore

• autobiography

• historical fiction

• mystery

verse meant to inspire thoughts and feelings in the reader; may have rhyme or rhythm or may be written in free verse

• poetry

• mystery

• informational

• historical fiction

stories set in a particular time and/or place of the past

• realistic fiction

• autobiography

• poetry

• historical fiction

Name that Genre!

• science fiction

• fantasy

• nonfiction

• mystery

stories that contain elements that can not be real; may include magical powers or talking animals; usually involved a struggle between good and evil

• science fiction

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• poetry

the story of a real person's life written by someone else

• biography

• autobiography

• folklore

• fantasy

the story of a real person's life written by that person

• autobiography

• informational

• biography

• mystery

The Harry Potter series, Twilight series, and Lord of the Rings series are all part of what genre

• poetry

• realistic fiction

• fantasy

• informational

a story that is pretend, but it could be real

• tall tale

• realistic fiction

• science fiction

• fantasy or fairy tale