CONVENTIONS OF

LITERARY GENRE
AND SUBGENRES
(Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, dramas, and folklore)
- LITERARY GENRES are categorized according to
narrative techniques, tone, content, and by
critics' definitions applied in a text.
- Composed of GENRE AND SUBGENRE.
 LITERARY GENRES AND SUBGENRES
FICTION NON-FICTION FOLKLORE POETRY DRAMAS

Realistic Biography Myth Free Verse Comedy

Fiction
Historical Autobiography Legends Structured Tragedy
Fiction (narrative
lyrical, haiku,
ballad)
Science Fiction Informational Tall Tale
Writing

Fantasy Persuasive Fairy Tale

Writing
Fables
 5 Main Genres

1. Poetry ■ writing concerned with the beauty of

language.

2. Nonfiction
■ stories once passed down orally.

3. Fiction ■ imaginative or made up writing.

4. Folklore ■ a play or script meant to be

performed.

5. Drama
■ writing that is true and based on facts
 FICTION SUBGENRES

HISTORICAL FICTION REALISTIC FICTION

SCIENCE FICTION FANTASY

 Fiction Subgenres
Match Them!!!
■ Historical Fiction ■ has no elements of
fantasy; could be true but
isn’t
■ Science Fiction ■ set in the past and based
on real people and/or
events
■ Realistic Fiction ■ has monsters, magic, or
characters with
superpowers
■ Fantasy
■ has aliens, robots,
futuristic technology
and/or space ships
 NON-FICTION
PERSUASIVE WRITING
SUBGENRES

INFORMATIVE WRITING
AUTOBIOGRAPHY/BIOGRAPHY
 Informational Writing: provides facts or information.
Ex. history, documentary, news articles
 Autobiography: one’s life story written by oneself.
Ex. The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller
 Biography: one’s life story written by someone else.
Ex. Nelson Mandela: A Biography by
Martin Meredith
 Persuasive Writing: meant to influence the reader.
Ex. editorial column, essays, literary criticism
FOLKLORE
SUBGENRES
 Fable: short story with talking animals & a moral (lesson of the
story that is clearly stated).
Ex. The Tortoise and the Hare; The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

 Myth: has gods & goddesses; may account for the creation of
something.
Ex. The Story of Maria Makiling; Myth of Narcissus

 Tall Tale: Funny story set in the Wild West; main character’s size
or skill exaggerated.
Ex. Paul Bunyan – huge lumberjack who eats 50 pancakes in
one minute.
 Fairy Tale: has magic and/or talking animals.
Ex. Sleeping Beauty; The Little Mermaid

 Legend: a story that might be true, but is exaggerated.

Ex. The Legend of Hundred Islands; How the
Philippines was formed
POETRY
SUBGENRES
 Free Verse - open form of poetry
 Structured:

1. Narrative – poetry that tells a story, often making

the voices of a narrator and characters as well.
Ex. epics, ballads
2. Lyric poetry - formal type of poetry which expresses
personal emotions or feelings, typically spoken in the
first person.
Ex. Ode, elegy
DRAMA
SUBGENRES
 What are Dramas?
Stories written in script form.
Example (Fill in)

Teacher: Good morning, class!

Student A: Good morning, Ms. Aguas!

Subgenres:

 Comedy – plays that concludes in a happy

ending.
Ex. A Midsummer Night's Dream.
 Tragedy - always end in death and sadness.
Ex. Romeo and Juliet
Comedy – plays that concludes in a happy
ending.
Ex. A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tragedy - always end in death and sadness.

Ex. Romeo and Juliet
Review

Nonfiction: persuasive writing, informational writing,

autobiography, and biography
Fiction: historical fiction, science fiction, realistic fiction,
and fantasy
Folklore: myth, legend, tall tale, fairy tale, and fable
Drama: comedy and tragedy

Poetry: many subgenres we will not study…

Practice
You will be graded on participation and completion, not on
accuracy.

1. On a separate sheet of paper, number one through ten.

2. Describe a piece of writing.
3. Write the genre and subgenre.
4. DO NOT SHARE ANSWERS!
 1
The Lion and the Mouse
Retold by Larry Raney

A Lion was sleeping when a Mouse woke him. The Lion was
about to eat him when the Mouse said, “Let me go and I won’t
forget it. Who knows? Maybe I’ll help you some day." The Lion
laughed so much at this idea that he let the mouse go. Some
time later the Lion was caught in a hunter’s trap. The little Mouse
happened to pass by and, seeing the trapped Lion, he gnawed
through the ropes and freed him.
Little friends can be a big help.
2
Brides of War
By Gloria Mallon

1942, as World War II is raging, three young ladies fall in

love with three very different soldiers. These odd couples
wind up on a triple date off-base one night. This seemingly
romantic evening explodes into a situation that could make or
break the allied war effort.
3
The Many Adventures of Robin Hood
Adapted by Kirk Young

In this work, Young retells the many folktales

concerning the mythical Robin Hood, who may have
been a real person. In these adventures Robin
Hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor in
fascinatingly dashing ways. These tales have
captured the imaginations of millions of delighted
readers through the ages.
4 The Awesome Book of Sharks
by Carrie Ann Powers

This book offers rare insights into the

deep-sea lives of one of nature’s deadliest,
yet most misunderstood, killing machines.
Learn where sharks live, what they eat, and
how they bear their young. This book gives
readers an up-close view of a shark’s life.
5
Escape From Space Base 8
by Mark Pound

The oxygen supplies on Space Base 8 are

dwindling and the meteor shield is running out of
energy. Can Captain Curt and his small crew of
ragtag rebels retrieve the much needed supplies
from Space Base 7 before it’s too late? Find out in
this exciting space adventure.
6
On Short Time: Personal Memoirs
by Eric Arugla

Our world is not often built with short people in

mind. In this collection of real-life stories, Mr. Arugla,
a person whom by some measures is considered the
smallest man in the world, tells the stories of his
trials and triumphs navigating through a world that
was just not built for him.
7
Pecos Bill
by Sarah Mills

Mills retells the adventures of one of the most

celebrated figures from the Wild West. Raised by a
pack of coyotes, Bill goes on to become the
toughest cowboy in the world, using a rattlesnake
as a lasso, riding a mountain lion, and eating
dynamite. You won’t believe these stories!
8
Celestial Event
by Michelle Walton

The story of Mae Puffin and her vampire love,

Bob Sharpe. The novel explores Mae's choice
between her love for Bob and her friendship with
mummy Daniel Red, who harbors great feelings for
Mae but is afraid to express himself because he
believes that the curse of the mummy extends to
love life as well.
9
Perseus: Crackin’ the Kraken
Adapted by Saul Walkman

Perseus, the son of Zeus, is about to receive the

ultimate test: to save his village he must slay the
snake-haired monster Medusa, who is so horrifying
that looking at her will turn you into stone. Not only
that, but somebody let out the Kraken, a gigantic
monster from the sea. Can Perseus defeat the
undefeatable and save his town?
10

A History of the United States for People

by Harold Zapp

Zapp tells the untold history of the United States by focusing

on the unrepresented minority groups: women, Native
Americans, and African Americans. Using rare documents from
the deepest archives of American history, Zapp provides a wealth
of interesting information and brings readers to some stunning
conclusions.
ANSWERS