Forms of LiteratureGrade 7

Nonfiction

Factual writing that is designed to explain, argue, describe, or instruct

Fiction

Literary work based on imagination and not necessarily on fact

Author’s Purpose

Author’s intent to inform, entertain, or persuade their audience

Autobiography

The story of a person’s life written by himself/herself

Memoir

Nonfiction; text is based on personal experiences of authors

Myth

A story that tries to explain the origin of the world or nature, contain Gods, supernatural beings, heroes, and provide a lesson about human behavior

Anecdote

A short account of a particular incident or event

Folktale

An anonymous and timeless story that has been handed down verbally over time among a people

Fable

A brief story that shows character traits through animal characters and relays a life lesson

Biography

The story of a person’s life written by someone other than the subject of the work

Editorial

Newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinion of the editor/publisher

Character Types

The kinds of characters that appear throughout the history of literature. Examples: the hero, the trickster

Elements of Fiction

Traits that mark a work as imaginative (plot, theme, symbol)

Reminisce

Retell events and actions that occurred in the past

Denotation

The direct or dictionary meaning of a word

Narrate

Describe the events of a story as if you are watching or experiencing them

Audience

The intended readers of a piece of writing

Drama

Literature meant for a stage or to be performed by actors; a play