Main Fiction Genres
a traditional story that has been passed down through generations (originally by word of mouth); includes myths, legends, fables, tall tales, and fairy tales
folktale
a written work that tells a story through action and speech and is acted out on stage, radio, television, or movie
drama
Poetry that does not conform to a regular meter or rhyme scheme
free verse
a story that involves the main character taking a journey (either personally or geographically) and has to face many obstacles along the way
adventure
spell out names or words with the first letter in each line. While the author is doing this, they're describing someone or something they deem important.
acrostic
Stories that didn't actually happen but COULD have happened in real life
realistic fiction
A type of literature that expresses ideas, feelings, or tells a story in a specific form; often uses figurative language and has a distinctive style and rhythm
Poetry
stories that focus on a puzzling crime, situation, or circumstance that needs to be solved
mystery
a story handed down from the past, containing historical elements (either a real person or event); the main character often has superhuman traits
legend
a traditional story presenting supernatural characters and situations that help explain natural events
myth
a story that contains an unreal world or contains unreal characters; often involves the supernatural
fantasy
3 unrhymed lines (5, 7, 5) usually focusing on nature
haiku
the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
tragedy
an outrageously exaggerated, humorous story that is obviously unbelievable even though it is told in a way as if it were true and factual; the narrator often seems to have witnessed the events
tall tale
Literature dealing with authentic incidents which could happen to real people living in our present society and often focuses on themes of growing up and confronting personal and social problems
contemporary realistic fiction
fiction that involves a real time period in the past. Contains historical facts, events, or people, but is not true.
historical fiction
often based on a legend or a folk tale. These poems may take the form of songs, or they may contain a moral or a lesson.
Ballad
an imagined world in which life is unpleasant - typically due to a totalitarian government, ruined environmental world, or other factors causing poverty or poor treatment of the people
dystopian
drama with exaggerated, sensational events and characters. It is highly emotional, focusing on exciting but over-the-top situations that are designed to encourage emotional responses in the audience. Characters are assigned stereotypical or simple roles, often in "good versus evil" situations.
melodrama
short poem; has 5 (usually unrhymed) lines with each line containing the following syllables in order - 2 /4/6/8/2
cinquain
writing that tells about imaginary events that involve advances in technology and other hypothetical futuristic concepts
science fiction
a comedy that uses satire to make fun of the behavior in a particular social group, especially the upper classes.
Comedy of Manners
a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes, typically having ten syllables per line.
sonnet
long narrative poem that usually tells a story about a hero or an adventure
Epic
entertains through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable; uses physical humor, nonsense, satire, parody, and mockery of real-life situations, people, events, and interactions, miscommunications, and exaggerated characters.
farce