* also called traditional tales * contains standard story elements: characterization, point of view, setting, mood, theme, plot, conclusion * may have 'fantastic' creatures (fairy, witch, giant, wizard) and magic * starts off with "Once upon a time"... * ends with "They lived happily ever after"... * story may deal with the struggles or quest of a hero or heroine * events may occur in groups of 3 or 7 * contrast is a technique to show the difference between good and bad * can have a pattern or chant that is repeated * library call number is 398.2
Biography * offers details of another person's life and contributes to a better understanding of that person and his/her role in society * concerned (usually) with people who have made significant contributions in a wide variety of areas, such as sports, government, entertainment, literature and the arts * can be inspiring * can provide insights into different cultures, periods of history and fields of study * there are different 'types' of biography: a regular, singular biography, an autobiography which is written by the actual person and a collective biography which is a book or volume which includes several biographies * library call number is 92 (and the first 3 letters of the person's last name) * library call number for a collective biography is 920
Mystery * includes thrillers, whodunits, crime fiction and detective stories * may have realistic portrayal of police methods in solving a crime * keeps readers in suspense * there are unknown facts and clues to be discovered * solution is usually satisfying
Poetry * includes a distinctive use of words which are carefully selected to convey beautiful sounds and images, as well as meaning * appeals to the senses and the emotions * like pictures, poetry conveys different meanings to different people * includes nursey rhymes which have a singsong quality * can have rhythm, rhyme, sound patterns, imagery, figurative language and repititions * can take on many forms, such as limerick, haiku, couplet, narrative (story) poem and free verse * library call number is usually 800
Historical Fiction * a realistic story set in the past * allows readers to experience past events * one type uses fictional characters but does not refer to any known people or to any recorded historical event * another type involves actual people and recorded events * allows readers to experience past time periods or incidents, and gain an understanding of the values and people who lived before them
Realistic Fiction * deals with all aspects of life * although fictitious, setting (time and place) is believable * contains believable characters who are involved in situations that could really happen * allows readers to identify with the characters * may focus on everyday problems, such as family issues, interpersonal problems, nontraditional lifestyles, handicaps, aging, growing up and coming of age and death
Fantasy * includes talking beasts, underground kingdoms, secret immortality, mysterious wizards * allows readers to explore the past, the future and worlds that coexist in the present * takes on many forms, such as stories of enchantment, humorous tales, stories in which animals and/or toys are personified (act as people) and science fiction tales * blends fantastic with realistic detail * theme is quite often serious, involving social and political issues, or universal, such as human values, emotion and motivation * common themes include: battle between good and evil, greed versus unselfishness and the meaning of life and death
Nonfiction * provides accurate, up-to-date, significant facts on a variety of subjects, such as science, technology, health and medicine, art, sports and games, geography and history * allows readers to broaden their knowledge * provides instructions, rules, formulas and recipes * relevancy, accuracy and objectivity can be analyzed * library call numbers depend on the subject area |
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