Literary Genres and Their Characteristics

A fictional (untrue) story that is set during a time in our past such as during the Civil War, etc

• Realistic Fiction

• Science Fiction

• Historical Fiction

• Nonfiction/Informational

The story of the life of a real person written by that person himself

• Biography

• Tall Tale

• Realistic Fiction

• Autobiography

fictional writing that can never be true: unicorns, leprechauns, fire breathing dragons

escrituras ficticias que nunca pueden ser verdaderas: unicornios, duendes, dragones que escupen fuego

• drama

• nonfiction

  no ficción

• science fiction

  ciencia ficción

  
  

• fantasy or fairy tale

  fantasía

story that is too big and crazy to be true

• mystery

  misterio

• autobiography

  autobiografía

• biography

  biografía

• tall tale

  cuento alto

Definition: Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.

• Non-fiction

• Fiction

Definition: Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting, such as WWII or the Vietnam War.

• Non-fiction

• Historical Fiction

• Fantasy

• Western

Definition: Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets.

• Mystery

• Horror

• Realistic Fiction

• Adventure

Definition: Stories that are dominated by action. They involve danger, risk, and excitement.

• Western

• Science Fiction

• Historical Fiction

• Adventure

Definition: Fiction in which the stories often tell about science and technology of the future. Space and time travel are often involved.

• Science Fiction

• Fairy Tale

• Fantasy

• Fable

Definition: A genre of literature that features magical and supernatural elements that do not exist in the real world.

• Science Fiction

• Fairy Tale

• Fantasy

• Fable