1. Literary GenresLiterary Genres
Genre Study ProjectGenre Study Project

2. Your ProjectYour Project
 Read at leastRead at least threethree books from a genrebooks from a genre
of your choosingof your choosing
 Incorporate research about that genreIncorporate research about that genre
 Write a script for a podcastWrite a script for a podcast
 Create a Genre Study PodcastCreate a Genre Study Podcast

3. Definition of Genre:Definition of Genre:
 ““a category of artistic, musical, or literarya category of artistic, musical, or literary
composition characterized by a particularcomposition characterized by a particular
style, form, or content”style, form, or content” ((
www.merriam-webster.comwww.merriam-webster.com))

4. Different from FORM…Different from FORM…
 PoetryPoetry
 ProseProse
 TextbookTextbook
 Short StoryShort Story
 NovelNovel
 Graphic novel / comicsGraphic novel / comics
……these are literary formsthese are literary forms

5. ManyMany different Genresdifferent Genres
& Sub-genres …& Sub-genres …
Some Books May Fit InSome Books May Fit In MoreMore
Than One Category:Than One Category:
 Artemis FowlArtemis Fowl = Adventure & Fantasy= Adventure & Fantasy
 TwilightTwilight = Romance & Fantasy (Vampires)= Romance & Fantasy (Vampires)
 The Lightning ThiefThe Lightning Thief = Fantasy &= Fantasy &
Action/AdventureAction/Adventure

6. FantasyFantasy
 Def:Def: contains elements that are not realistic:
 strange settings
 talking animals
 magical powers
 often set in a medieval universe
 magical/mythical characters (dragons, etc.)
 Famous examples (movies & books):Famous examples (movies & books):
 Harry Potter seriesHarry Potter series
 The Lord of the Rings seriesThe Lord of the Rings series
 Wizard of OzWizard of Oz
 Peter PanPeter Pan
 Vampire Fiction:Vampire Fiction:
 TwilightTwilight seriesseries
 Cirque du FreakCirque du Freak seriesseries

7. Science FictionScience Fiction
 stories that often tell about science and technology of the future
 involving partially true fictions laws or theories of science
 Settings:
 in the future
 in space
 on a different world
 in a different universe or dimension
 Famous movies:
 Star Wars
 Star Trek
 The Matrix
 Jurassic Park
 Famous Books:
 Brave New World by Alduous Huxley
 1984 by George Orwell
 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verneby Jules Verne

8. Action / AdventureAction / Adventure
 Def.: has adventure, an excitingDef.: has adventure, an exciting
events involving risk & physicalevents involving risk & physical
dangerdanger
 Often overlaps with other genresOften overlaps with other genres
(war, crime, sci-fi, fantasy)(war, crime, sci-fi, fantasy)
 Movie examples:Movie examples:
 James Bond moviesJames Bond movies
 Book examples:Book examples:
 Gary Paulsen’s booksGary Paulsen’s books
 Alex Rider seriesAlex Rider series

9. Historical FictionHistorical Fiction
 Def.:Def.:
 Setting = a historical period
 often portrays fictional accounts oroften portrays fictional accounts or
dramatization of historical figures ordramatization of historical figures or
eventsevents
 attempt to capture spirit, manners, andattempt to capture spirit, manners, and
social conditions of a persons or time(s)social conditions of a persons or time(s)
 stories centered around historical
situation -- names of people and places
have been changed
 Movie Eg.:Movie Eg.:
 Forest GumpForest Gump
 Flags of Our FathersFlags of Our Fathers
 TitanicTitanic
 Sub-genres:Sub-genres:
 War FictionWar Fiction
 Holocaust FictionHolocaust Fiction

10. Mystery / Suspense /Mystery / Suspense /
Thriller / CrimeThriller / Crime
 Mystery:
 solving a puzzling event, situation or a
crime
 something unknown or strange
 centered around a person who
investigates wrong-doing or trying to get
secret information
 Thriller:Thriller:
 fast pacing, frequent actionfast pacing, frequent action
 resourceful heroes who must overcomeresourceful heroes who must overcome
villains

11. Horror / Ghost StoriesHorror / Ghost Stories
 Horror:Horror:
 intended to scare, unsettle and horrifyintended to scare, unsettle and horrify
 sometimes has supernatural / paranormalsometimes has supernatural / paranormal
elements (Ghost Stories)elements (Ghost Stories)
 Movie example:Movie example:
 The ExorcistThe Exorcist
 Nightmare on Elm StreetNightmare on Elm Street
 Paranormal StateParanormal State

12. Realistic FictionRealistic Fiction
 real life with characters dealing with real
life problems
 stories that take place in modern times
 characters are involved in events that
could happen

13. Lots of sub-genres ofLots of sub-genres of
Realistic Fiction:Realistic Fiction:
 ““Chick Lit”Chick Lit”
 Humorous FictionHumorous Fiction
 SportsSports
 FriendshipFriendship
 Romance/relationshipsRomance/relationships

14. ““Chick Lit”Chick Lit”
 DefinitionDefinition: genre fiction within women's fiction: genre fiction within women's fiction
written for andwritten for and marketedmarketed to young womento young women
(doesn’t mean guys can’t read it – just usually(doesn’t mean guys can’t read it – just usually
don’t)don’t)
 generally deals with the issues of modern womengenerally deals with the issues of modern women
humorously and lightheartedlyhumorously and lightheartedly
 Movie Examples: “chick flicks”Movie Examples: “chick flicks”
 Bridget Jones’s DiaryBridget Jones’s Diary
 Examples:Examples:
 Princess DiariesPrincess Diaries seriesseries
 Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsSisterhood of the Traveling Pants seriesseries
 Judy Blume’s booksJudy Blume’s books
 Sarah Dessen’s booksSarah Dessen’s books

15. Humorous FictionHumorous Fiction
 Designed to make you laugh, provideDesigned to make you laugh, provide
amusement, entertain.amusement, entertain.
 May exaggerate or poke fun of aMay exaggerate or poke fun of a
situation/person/thingsituation/person/thing
 Movie Examples:Movie Examples:
 ElfElf
 Book Examples:Book Examples:
 Diary of a Wimpy KidDiary of a Wimpy Kid

16. Sports FictionSports Fiction
 Definition: have sports setting,Definition: have sports setting,
competitive event, &/or athlete as centralcompetitive event, &/or athlete as central
focusfocus
 Movie Examples:Movie Examples:
 Field of DreamsField of Dreams
 A League of Their OwnA League of Their Own
 The SandlotThe Sandlot
 Book Examples:Book Examples:
 Brian’s SongBrian’s Song

17. RomanceRomance
 Focus is on romanticFocus is on romantic
relationshiprelationship
 Usually has optimistic endingUsually has optimistic ending
 Famous Books:Famous Books:
 Pride & Prejudice – JanePride & Prejudice – Jane
AustenAusten
 Jane Eyre – Charlotte BronteJane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
 Movie Examples:Movie Examples:
 Love, ActuallyLove, Actually (with Hugh(with Hugh
Grant)Grant)
 My Big Fat Greek WeddingMy Big Fat Greek Wedding

18. The “Problem Novel”The “Problem Novel”
 Definition: focuses on a young adultDefinition: focuses on a young adult
dealing with a social or personal problemdealing with a social or personal problem
(drug addiction, alcoholism, eating(drug addiction, alcoholism, eating
disorder, disease, pregnancy, abuse, etc.).disorder, disease, pregnancy, abuse, etc.).
Usually the main character learns a lessonUsually the main character learns a lesson
or grows/changes because of this.or grows/changes because of this.
 Famous Book Examples:Famous Book Examples:
 Go Ask AliceGo Ask Alice

19. Today’s ActivityToday’s Activity
 List title & identifyList title & identify
books by genre(s)books by genre(s)
 List 2 pieces ofList 2 pieces of
evidenceevidence or reasonsor reasons
why you categorized itwhy you categorized it
in this genrein this genre
 Look at the front/backLook at the front/back
cover – images/artcover – images/art
 Read inside flap / backRead inside flap / back
cover descriptioncover description
 Read first few pagesRead first few pages
 Sort books by genre onSort books by genre on
big tablesbig tables
Genres:Genres:
 FantasyFantasy
 Science FictionScience Fiction
 Action/AdventureAction/Adventure
 Horror/Ghost storiesHorror/Ghost stories
 Realistic FictionRealistic Fiction
 ““Chick Lit,”Chick Lit,”
 RomanceRomance
 Problem NovelProblem Novel
 Sports FictionSports Fiction
 Humorous FictionHumorous Fiction
 Mystery/Thriller/Crime NovelsMystery/Thriller/Crime Novels
 Historical FictionHistorical Fiction