Genres Types
Genre - a category, in literature or other media, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.
There are many ways stories can be told, which creates many different genres. The characteristics of these many stories overlap in so many ways it makes it impossible to categorize genre uniquely. Consequently, there are a lot of genres with many overlapping characteristics.
Categories to consider for different genre
Media used to communicate a story - book, text, picture, oral words, dance, song, theatre, video, multi media,
Prose - written text or spoken word that is not poetic or have rhythm
Poetry - communicates an intensity of ideas and emotions with the use of imagery, rhyme, rhythm,
Written - use of text
Oral - told or spoken by mouth. ballads, myth, joke, folk tale, fables, comedy routines,
Picture books - may or may not have writing
Graphic novels - combination of pictures and text
Fiction - false
Non fiction - true (While it would seem fiction and non fiction might provide unique genre categories there are books as well as other pieces of literature that combine the two.)
Story elements - characterization, setting, point of view, style, tone, plot, theme
Why bother?
With all the possibilities of different genres why even consider them as important? The short answer is that the characteristics of each genre help readers and viewers to better understand and appreciate each literary piece. Therefore, the more a person knows about the differences, the easier it will be for them to understand, learn, create, and critically appreciate literature and those that create it.
Common Genres
Fiction
- adventure
- animal
- personification of toys
- comics
- fable
- religious stories
- fairy tale
- fantasy
- folk tale
- little people
- graphic novels
- high fantasy
- historical fiction
- legend
- people - family, peers, moral, emotional, behavioral, physical, sex, religion, challenges
- coming of age
- myth
- mystery
- realistic fiction
- survival
- riddles
- romance
- science fiction
- sports
- tall tales
- thrillers
- cliff hangers
Concept books
- alphabet
- counting
- language arts development (reading, grammar, phonics)
- mathematics development
- puzzle book
Picture books
Wordless books
Graphic novels, manga, anima
Non fiction
- autobiography
- biography
- history - war, medieval, ancient, prehistoric, beginnings of civilization, industrialization, peace
- informational
- puzzle
- reference
- self help
- science
- sports
- other subject areas
Poetry
- nursery rhymes
- verse
- ballad
- epic
- lyrics
- narrative poem
- rap
Classics
Anthologies
Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©