Short Story: Genres

“If a story is in you it has got to come out” ~ William Faulkner

Group Brainstorm

In your group … brainstorm as many musical genres

as you can … GO!

Literary Genres

Just like music has genres, so does literature.

Sooooo, let’s try this again with literature in mind.

Drama

Historical

Science Fiction

Comedy

Mystery/Thriller

Fantasy

Biographical

Western

Fable

FictionNon-Fiction

Adventure

Characteristics of Genres

Each genre has specific characteristics,

devices, style that fit within that genre

(just like music)

Two Main Categories …

Fiction False

Figment

Events did not happen

Examples: Fantasy, fable, myth,

legend, realistic fiction, folk tale

Non-Fiction True

Real

Events really happened

Examples: biography,

autobiography, instruction

manual, memoirs

Fairy Tales

“Once upon a time …”

Difficult, seemingly impossible problem

to solve

Tell a moral or lesson to be learned

Often include characters with magical

powers

Imaginary characters (ie. Dragons,

fairies …)

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI-LX4hKbPAhVJ4oMKHXvqDnUQjRwIBw&url=http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Tinker_Bell&bvm=bv.133700528,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNGNr7DHVefQ19PdWZ3UXMZL-P0-6w&ust=1474738975093160http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI-LX4hKbPAhVJ4oMKHXvqDnUQjRwIBw&url=http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Tinker_Bell&bvm=bv.133700528,d.amc&psig=AFQjCNGNr7DHVefQ19PdWZ3UXMZL-P0-6w&ust=1474738975093160

Cinderella~ Brothers Grimm

Horror Written to frighten, scare, or

disgust the reader

Uses dark, eerie, or gloomy language

May deal with the supernatural or the dark side of human nature

Ghosts, haunted houses, murder

The Tell Tale Heart ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI0cWecfoak

Love Written to display a specific kind of love

A problem that may prevent the two from falling in love or being

together

Full of emotion

Written to explain qualities that the emotion of love can bring out in

humans

The Gift of the Magi ~ O. Henry

Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEYKlV0vkIs

Human Nature

Story that tells us something about innate qualities of humans

Usually have a twist or unexpected ending

Reveal a specific idea/though about how humans behave (ie.

good vs. evil)

Written to remind us that we are all capable of such actions

Lamb to the Slaughter~ Ronald Dahl

Watch the video: https://vimeo.com/126942406

Science Fiction

often based on scientific principles and technology

may make predictions about life in the future

often deals with aliens or with life on other worlds

can comment on important issues in society

There Will Come Soft Rains ~ Ray Bradbury

Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNHYz89sNc