Genres and Subgenres

Question 1

Fiction

Answer 1

Genre
Imaginative or made up writing (Writing that is NOT true)
Sub-genres of FICTION include:
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Question 2

Nonfiction

Answer 2

Genre
Writing that is true
Sub-genres of NONFICTION include:
Informational Writing, Persuasive Writing, Biography, Autobiography

Question 3

Folklore

Answer 3

Genre
Stories once passed down orally (usually has an “unknown” author or will be “retold” or “adapted” by the author)
Sub-genres of FOLKLORE include:
Fairy Tale, Fable, Myth, Legend, Tall Tale

Question 4

Drama

Answer 4

Genre
A play or script (Stories written in script form)
Sub-genres of DRAMA include:
Comedy, Tragedy

Ex. of Script Form-
Teacher: Everyone take notes.
Student A: I don’t have a pen.

Question 5

Poetry

Answer 5

Genre
Writing concerned with the beauty of language
(sometimes rhymes, but NOT ALWAYS)

Question 6

What are the 5 main GENRES?

Answer 6

Fiction
Non-fiction
Folklore
Drama
Poetry

Question 7

Persuasive Writing

Answer 7

Sub-genre of Non-Fiction
Tries to influence the reader
Ex. Advertisements, Persuasive Essays, etc.

Question 8

Informational Writing

Answer 8

Sub-genre of Non-Fiction
Explains something
Ex. Textbook, Article about Kittens, Instructions on how to do something, etc.

Question 9

Autobiography

Answer 9

Sub-genre of Non-Fiction
Life story written by oneself
Ex. A book about Abraham Lincoln’s life that he wrote.

Question 10

Biography

Answer 10

Sub-genre of Non-Fiction
Writing about someone else’s life
Ex. A book that someone wrote about George Washington’s life.

Question 11

What are the Sub-genres of Non-Fiction?

Answer 11

Informational Writing
Persuasive Writing
Biography
Autobiography

Question 12

The Latin roots in “Autobiography” are _____, ________, and _________.

Answer 12

"Auto"
Means: Self
"Bio"
Means: Life
"Graphy"
Means: Writing
Put them together: WRITING about the LIFE of one's SELF

Question 13

The Latin roots in “Biography” are ________ and _________.

Answer 13

"Bio"
Means: Life
"Graphy"
Means: Writing
Put them together: WRITING about someone's LIFE.

Question 14

What are the Sub-Genres of Fiction?

Answer 14

Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Science Fiction
Fantasy

Question 15

Realistic Fiction

Answer 15

Sub-Genre of FICTION
Has no elements of fantasy; could be true BUT ISN’T; SEEMS true BUT ISN’T
Ex. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Secret Garden, Ramona the Pest, etc.

Question 16

Historical Fiction

Answer 16

Sub-Genre of FICTION
Set in the past and based on real people and/or events
Ex. The Little House on the Prairie, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, etc.

Question 17

Science Fiction

Answer 17

Sub-Genre of FICTION
Has aliens, robots, futuristic technology and/or space ships
Ex. Star Wars, etc.

Question 18

Fantasy

Answer 18

Sub-Genre of FICTION
Has monsters, magic, or characters with superpowers
Ex. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Hobbit, Spiderman, etc.

Question 19

What is the difference between Realistic Fiction and Historical Fiction?

Answer 19

Both SEEM real, BUT ARE NOT. Both are sub-genres of Fiction (and are not true).
**The difference is that Historical Fiction takes place in the past. The setting of Historical Fiction is in the past and Realistic Fiction is set in the present.

Question 20

What is the difference between Realistic Fiction and Biography?

Answer 20

Realistic Fiction is a sub-genre of FICTION, and is therefore NOT TRUE (even though it may SEEM true).
Biography is a sub-genre of NON-FICTION, and is therefore TRUE.

Question 21

What is the difference between Biography and Autobiography?

Answer 21

Both are about a person’s life, or events in a person’s life. Both are sub-genres of Non-Fiction (and are true).
**The difference is that an Autobiography is written by the person who the story is about (they are writing about THEIR OWN life and experiences). A biography is written by someone about SOMEONE ELSE’S life and experiences.

Question 22

Fable

Answer 22

Sub-genre of FOLKLORE
-Short story with personified animals and a moral
Ex. “The Tortoise and the Hare”, “The Three Little Pigs”, “The Ugly Duckling”, etc.

Question 23

Myth

Answer 23

Sub-genre of FOLKLORE
-Has gods/goddesses
-Usually accounts for the creation of something
-Hero/heroine has super powers (ex. can fly, can become invisible, etc.)
Ex. In Greek mythology, Zeus was the god who was in charge of thunder.

Question 24

Personified

Answer 24

When something is given the traits of people.

Ex. A talking animal, a dancing tree, a singing tea pot, etc.

Question 25

Moral

Answer 25

The lesson or message of a fable.
Ex. The moral of the story, “The Tortoise and the Hare” is that “slow and steady wins the race”. Another moral to that story is “Pride comes before a fall”.

Question 26

Tall Tale

Answer 26

Sub-genre of FOLKLORE
-Often (but not always) set in the Wild West, the American frontier
-Main characters’ skills/size/strength is greatly exaggerated
-Exaggeration is humorous
-Uses hyperbole
Ex. Uncle Septimus’ Beard became like a tornado.

Question 27

Legend

Answer 27

Sub-genre of FOLKLORE
-Based on a real person or place
-Hero/heroine faces a powerful force
-Hero/heroine has special powers/abilities (ex. can run really fast, can swordfight really well, etc.)
Ex. The Legend of King Arthur, Michael Jordan is a basketball legend, Babe Ruth is a baseball legend, etc.

Question 28

Fairytale

Answer 28

Sub-genre of FOLKLORE

• Has magic and/or talking animals
• Often starts with “Once upon a time…”
• Often has a human main character
• *Be careful:
• Fantasy also has magic elements, but Fairy Tales are much older and are passed down orally
• Fables also have talking animals, but fables are VERY short

Question 29

Cultural Values

Answer 29

Beliefs of a group of person. Things that they consider important.
Ex. Honesty, Integrity, Family, etc.

Question 30

Hyperbole

Answer 30

Extreme exaggeration
Ex. “My backpack weighs a ton!”, “I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse!, “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!”, “That is the fattest dog in the world!”, etc.

Question 31

What are the Sub-Genres of Folklore?

Answer 31

Fairy Tale
Fable
Myth
Legend
Tall Tale

Question 32

Comedy

Answer 32

Sub-Genre of DRAMA (written in script form)

Has a happy ending

Question 33

Tragedy

Answer 33

Sub-Genre of DRAMA (written in script form)
Ends in death and sadness
Ex. Romeo and Juliette

Question 34

What are the Sub-Genres of Drama?

Answer 34

Comedy

Tragedy

Question 35

What is the difference between SUPER powers and SPECIAL POWERS/ABILITIES?

Answer 35

Super Powers are things that humans cannot naturally do. Ex. Fly, become invisible, shape change, etc.
Special Powers/abilities are things that humans can do, that the character can do extremely well. Ex. run, jump, sword fight, play a sport, etc.

Question 36

What is the difference between Myth and Legend?

Answer 36

Both are sub-genres of FOLKLORE (passed down orally).
**The differences are:
Myths often have gods/goddesses and characters with SUPER powers.
Myths often explain the creation of natural things.
Legends often have heroes/heroines with SPECIAL powers/abilities.
Legends are often based off of people that might have really existed/events that might have really occurred.

Question 37

What is the difference between a Legend and a Tall Tale?

Answer 37

Both are sub-genres of FOLKLORE (passed down orally). Both might include exaggeration. Both are based off of characters/events that might have really existed/occurred.
**The differences are:
Legends are more serious and Tall Tales are more humorous.
Tall Tales use extreme exaggerations (hyperbole), which make their characters “larger than life” and humorous.
Legends often have their hero/heroine facing a powerful force.