Download FICTION NONFICTION POETRY DRAMA GENRE GRAPHIC

GENRE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Name:
Period: ______ Date: ________________
Directions: There are four main types of literature: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama. Within each of
these types, there are even more types; we call these genres. Using the definitions on the back of this sheet,
identify the type of literature each genre fits under. For example, autobiography should go in the nonfiction
column.
FICTION
NONFICTION
POETRY
DRAMA
a type of literature that tells
a story that did not really
happen
a type of literature that
gives you factual
information
a type of literature that uses
sound, structure and figurative
language to express emotions
and/or ideas
a type of literature
meant to be performed
on stage in front of an
audience
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF GENRES
for FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY & DRAMA
acrostic – a poem in which a person spells a word vertically then writes a sentence that starts with each letter of that word
advertisement – an image, audio or video that tries to get you to buy or believe something
allegory – an untrue story that symbolizes a true story
almanac – an annual calendar of important dates, statistics, tide tables, weather patterns, astronomical information, etc.
anecdote – a short or amusing story about a real event or person
atlas – a book of maps
autobiography – an account of a person’s life written by that person
ballad – a poem that tells a story
biography – an account of a person’s life written by someone else
carpe diem – a poem that urges people to live for the moment
cinquain - a poem with five lines
clerihew – a four-lined poem with AABB rhyme scheme that lightheartedly makes fun of an historical figure
comedy – a type of play with a happy ending
comic book – an illustrated text often about superheroes
diamante – a poem that compares two opposite things and has special rules for the number and part of speech of words on each line
diary – a book in which one keeps a daily record of events
dictionary – an alphabetical list of words and definitions
encyclopedia – a set of books with information on many subjects arranged alphabetically
epic – a very long poem about a hero’s journey
epigram – a short, witty poem
epithalamium – a poem about marriage
fable – a very short story for children that teaches them a moral or lesson about life; e.g. “The Tortoise and the Hare”
fairy tale – a short story for children often about elves, witches, goblins, dragons or other magical creatures; e.g. “Cinderella”
folk tale – a legend or short story passed down by word of mouth
free verse – a poem that doesn’t follow any rules
haiku – a poem of Japanese origin that contains 3 lines and 5-7-5 syllable pattern
historical fiction – a story that didn’t really happen but is set during an historical time period and has historical figures as characters
history – a play about an historical person or event
horror - fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader
legend – a story, poem or play that is sometimes regarded as historically accurate but has no evidence to back it up
limerick – a five-lined poem with AABBA rhyme scheme and set meter; often begins with the words “There once was a…”
literary criticism – an essay that analyzes a work of literature
memoir – a personal account of an historical event
mystery – a story dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets
myth – a story about gods or heroes or that attempts to explain why something in nature exists
newspaper – a daily or weekly publication of current events and opinions
ode – a poem in praise of a person or thing
op/ed – an article in a newspaper in which a person gives his opinion about something
parable – a short story used to illustrate a spiritual or moral lesson, like many of the stories in the Bible
philosophy – a person’s deep thoughts about something
propaganda – deliberately misleading advertisement
realistic fiction – a story that didn’t really happen but could happen
recipe – instructions for how to make a food
religion – something a person believes without having evidence
review – a person’s opinion about a particular thing, like a book, movie or restaurant
romance – a love story
sacred text – the literature associated with a certain religion (e.g. Bible, Koran, Tao Te Ching)
scholarly article – an academic essay or article
scifi – a story about aliens, time travel and/or outer space
sestina – a poem divided into six six-line stanzas that repeats the words at the end of the lines in the first stanza at the ends of lines
in subsequent stanzas but in a different order
tabloid – a magazine or newspaper with sensational stories, often about celebrities
tall tale - humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance
tanka – a poem with five lines and 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern
thesaurus – a book of words with their synonyms and antonyms
tragedy – a type of play with a very sad ending
travelogue – a book about the sights to see in a place
user manual – a book that explains how something works
villanelle – a poem with nineteen lines and two refrain lines that are repeated throughout the poem