An adventure involves risk and physical danger. It may include a quest or a voyage and may be set in different time periods or strange lands.
The epic story is centered around heroic figures and usually involves struggles of great scope and size over long periods of time.
An essay is a non-fiction work making arguments or setting out opinions on any topic.
Fables are stories that illustrate a moral lesson and frequently involve talking animals and objects.
These stories of good versus evil may involve fantasy settings. Folk tales are traditional stories began in the oral tradition and were handed down through the years. Fairy Tales may involve elves, trolls, giants, royalty, and fairies.
Stories of fantasy include an element that is not based in reality. Imaginary elements might center around the setting, events, or characters.
Gothic literature combines elements of horror and romance, generally with tones and themes of darkness.
These stories are fictionalized accounts that involve historically accurate settings, characters, and/or situations.
The genre of history is defined as a presentation of information about the past that is considered to be based in fact.
Horror is fiction that involves a sinister atmosphere and supernatural characters and settings. It includes stories of witches, vampires, and monsters.
Informational text provides general facts and descriptions of real world people, places, and things.
A memoir is a work written about the life of a real person by that person.
Fiction that involves an investigation or solves a crime.
Nursery rhymes are traditional poems for children that may include lullabies, finger plays, and counting rhymes.
The search for meaning of existence, knowledge, and values.
Poetry is a form of literary art that uses aesthetic qualities to create a deeper meaning.
Realism is a work of fiction that portrays life as it may have been during the time it was written.
Romance stories involve tales of love and possibly loss of love.
Satire is generally written with humor in mind, but carries undertones of political or social critique.
Science fiction explores the consequences of scientific innovation. Science fiction is likely to be set in the future and involve high technology.
A speech is a transcript of a work spoken in public.
A tragedy usually involves a hero of high standing with a character flaw that leads to his or her downfall.
Last updated July 2018.
DRAMA
Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.
FABLE
Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale.
FAIRY TALE
Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.
FANTASY
Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.
FICTION
Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.
FICTION IN VERSE
Full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), theme(s), major and minor characters, in which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form.
FOLKLORE
The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth.
FISTORICAL FICTION
Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.
HORROR
Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.
HUMOR
Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain; but can be contained in all genres
LEGEND
Story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material.
MYSTERY
Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets.
MYTHOLOGY
Legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods.
POETRY
Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses.
REALISTIC FICTION
Story that can actually happen and is true to life.
SCIENCE FICTION
Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets.
SHORT STORY
Fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots.
TALL TALE
Humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance.
Taken from: California Department of Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Curriculum Resources, 2017.
Last updated November 2024.
Biography/Autobiography
Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person.
Essay
A short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point.
Narrative Nonfiction
Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.
Nonfiction
Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject.
Speech
Public address or discourse.
Taken from: Taken from: California Department of Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Curriculum Resources, 2017.
