Genres, Literary Conventions and Terms

 

 

 

Non-Fiction: Factual writing which is meant to inform the reader.

 

 

 

1.  Biography: The story of a person’s life written by another person.

 

 

 

2.  Autobiography: The story of a person’s life written by that person.

 

 

 

3.  Newspapers and Magazines: Documents published periodically, which contain information and comments about topics of current interest.

 

A. Informational Article: Writing intended to inform the reader of the facts and details surrounding current events.

 

B.  Advertisements: A notice that calls attention to a product or service.

 

C.  Letters to the Editor:  Correspondence in which the readers of newspapers and magazines provide input by writing to the editor. Also called Editorials.

 

 

 

4.  Essays: Brief articles by authors who share their opinions and reflections about current issues.

 

 

 

5.  Letters: Written or printed messages addressed to a person or an organization.

 

 

 

1. Business Letter: The beginning of the letter states the names and addresses of the  

 

        sender and recipient of the letter. The body of the letter discusses some type of 

 

        business transaction and is usually addressed, “Dear Sir or Madame:”

 

 

 

1. Personal Letter: A type of letter that follows few rules of form other than using affectionate forms of address like “Dear Sally,”  The body of the letter discusses feelings or experiences shared by the sender and recipient, showing relationship.

 

 

 

1. Formal Letter: Follows specific rules. The forms of address and closing are serious, though the body of the letter may include some personal experiences or emotions. Types of these letters include condolence letters and wedding announcements.

 

 

 

 

 

Fiction: Narrative writing drawn from the imagination rather from fact or history.

 

 

 

1.  Novel: An extended fictional narrative almost always written in prose.

 

 

 

2.  Short story: A story varying in length from 500-15,000 words. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end and includes elements of the short story such as plot, characters, setting, etc.

 

 

 

1. Fantasy: A story that takes place in an exaggerated world with bizarre characters in it.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Science Fiction: A written work in which scientific facts form the basis of adventures in the future, other planets, time, and space.

 

 

 

3. Mystery: A work in which characters face problems, which are seemingly beyond explanation. Suspense and terror play a central part.

 

 

 

4. Romance: Describes exotic places, remote locations, heroic events, and passionate love.

 

 

 

5. Allegory: A narrative in which objects, people and actions represent meanings that are outside the story itself. Characters are symbols in the story.

 

 

 

6. Fable: A brief tale told to point out a lesson or moral. The characters are almost always animals. Aesop is a famous fable writer.

 

 

 

7. Folk Tale: A simple story set in the past. Events often happen in threes (3’s). Example – Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

 

 

 

8. Legend: A story associated with some period in the history of a people or nation. The story is written to glorify a human hero or object that has significance. Example – Lord of the Rings

 

 

 

 

 

9. Myth: A story with supernatural characters and events, sometimes connected with religious beliefs or rituals that attempts to explain certain natural occurrences (such as why the thunder claps)

 

 

 

10. Tall Tale: A humorous tale common in the North American Frontier (Old West) Example- Paul Bunyan

 

 

 

Poetry: Literature written in lines and stanzas, which often do not follow regular rules for grammar.  Rhythm and rhyme are often found.

 

 

 

Epic Poem: A long narrative poem that includes a central heroic figure. Example – the Odyssey and Beowulf

 

 

 

Drama:  A story told in action and dialogue by actors who perform on stage.

 

Video:  Dramas written not for the stage but for movies and television

 

 

 

POINTS OF VIEW:

 

First person point of view: the narrator tells the story from the “I” point of view

 

 

 

Third person point of view: the writer tells the story describing characters as “he,” “she,” or “they.”

 

 

 

Third person limited: the story is told from ONE character whose information is restricted to what only he/she sees, hears, and feels.

 

 

 

Third person omniscient: the narrator is capable of knowing and seeing all.

 

 

 

 

 

SETTING:

 

Setting: the time, place, and environment in which the story takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

CHARACTERS:

 

Character: an imaginary person that appears in a literary work.

 

 

 

Protagonist: the good guy.

 

 

 

Antagonist: the bad guy.

 

 

 

Dialogue: the conversation between the characters. Usually is in “Quotation marks “

 

 

 

 

 

PLOT:

 

Plot: the pattern of events in the story (what happens in the story)

 

 

 

Internal conflict: the struggle inside oneself (man vs. self), these usually focus on emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, jealousy, etc.   Forms the central point of interest in the story.

 

 

 

External conflict: the struggle outside oneself (man vs. man, nature, and society – war/ government/poverty)   Forms the central point of interest in the story.

 

 

 

Foreshadowing: clues or hints at what’s to come.

 

 

 

Climax: the turning point of the story

 

 

 

Resolution: final unraveling of the plot. Where all the “questions” are answered.

 

 

 

 

 

MOOD AND TONE:

 

Mood and tone: the feeling or impression of a literary work. (sad, suspenseful, gloomy, happy, relaxed, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

LITERARY WORDS:

 

Analogy: an explanation or description of something unfamiliar or difficult to explain by comparison with something familiar. (Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get)

 

 

 

Imagery: the use of words to evoke the sensations of sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste

 

(your five senses)

 

 

 

Verbal irony: sarcasm; saying one thing, but meaning something different.

 

 

 

Dramatic irony: when the audience knows something that the characters do not.

 

 

 

Situational Irony: the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

 

 

 

Metaphor: Comparison of two unlike things NOT using the words like or as

 

 

 

Simile: Comparison of two unlike things USING the words like or as.

 

 

 

Personification: giving human qualities to something NON-human.

 

 

 

Hyperbole: an exaggeration to create an effect   (I’d rather die than eat broccoli)

 

 

 

Symbol: any object, person, place or action that has meaning in itself and stands for something else.

 

 

Symbol: any object, person, place or action that has meaning in itself and stands for something else.