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Types of Genre

Prepared by P B Thorbole

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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

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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

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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

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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 fact

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  • 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

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  • 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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?)

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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)

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  • 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