Genres | Genres

Adventure | Une aventure

Fiction

Features | Les traits

The adventure literary genre

• focuses on the solving of a problem through a series of action events
• typically includes an aspect of peril, threat, or danger
• involves risk and physical danger, as its main theme
• often features a hero and a villain as characters

Autobiography | Une autobiographie

Non-fiction

The autobiographical literary genre

• explains an account of a real person’s life written by that person from his or her own point of view
• is often written from the first person singular perspective

Biography | Une biographie

Non-fiction

The biographical literary genre

• is usually a description or an account of a person’s life written by another person
• often situates a person’s life in historical terms and/or in a cultural context

Drama | Un drame

Fiction

The drama literary genre

• presents the actions and words of characters
• is typically designed for the theatre because characters are assigned roles usually enacted on stage
• generally appears as a play (or a script) such as radio broadcasts, comedy sketches, and opera
• expresses conflicts and emotions through dialogue and action

Epic | Une épopée

Fiction

The epic literary genre

• recounts the actions, travels, or adventures of a hero, who is usually on a quest or attempting to perform a difficult task
• describes the deeds of a heroic figure, often of national or cultural importance

Essay | Une dissertation

Non-fiction

The essay literary genre

• discusses a subject or makes an argument
• often presents the writer’s own ideas on a topic and may reflect an author’s perspective or point of view
• frequently found in magazines and periodicals

Fable | Une fable

Fiction

The fable literary genre

• teaches a moral or lesson through the narration of a brief tale
• involves characters that are usually animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that embody different human characteristics

Fairy tale | Un conte de fées

Fiction

The fairy tale literary genre

• involves magical beings, lands, and objects
• often begin with “Once upon a time . . . ” | « Il était une fois. . . » or “Long, long ago . . . ” | « Il ya bien longtemps. . ./ En ce temps-là… »
• includes enchanting, fantastic or marvelous episodes and imaginative characters, events, or symbols

Fantasy | Une fantaisie

Fiction

The fantasy literary genre

• features an imaginative setting, often in the past or the future
• involves characters (human and animal) who have adventures
• typically contains elements of magic
• includes unrealistic, nonsensical or impossible aspects

Folk tale | Un conte populaire

Fiction

The folk tale literary genre

• is usually based on a story from the past that has been transmitted orally from generation to generation
• is typically of unknown authorship
• may entertain, teach, reinforce cultural and social mores, and reflect cultural differences

Historical fiction | Un texte de fiction historique

Fiction

The historical fiction literary genre

• gives an accurate portrayal of life and events during a particular time in history
• often features real settings
• usually involves imaginary characters and plots

Horror | Un texte d’horreur

Fiction

The horror literary genre

• typically highlights events or characters that evoke fear in other characters and in the reader
• is designed to make the reader feel horror, disgust or terror
• features characters such as phantoms, witches or a variety of monsters that threaten humans

Humour | Un texte d’humour

Fiction

The humour literary genre

• uses comedy, wit, fancy, and funny anecdotes
• intends to entertain, amuse, ridicule or satirize
• focuses on funny characters, situations or events
• may be realistic or fantastic

Informational | Un texte informatif

Non-fiction

The informational literary genre

• explains a subject or concept
• includes factual texts of documented knowledge
• features accurate, authentic, up-to-date and clearly organized information
• may incorporate maps, photos, diagrams, illustrations or charts to help explain and justify the facts

Legend | Une légende

Fiction

The legend as a literary genre

• often focuses on a national or folk hero
• is typically rooted in real historical events, may have a basis in facts and/or includes imagined characters, events, and settings
• has usually been transmitted orally from generation to generation

Memoir | Une mémoire

Non-fiction

The memoir as a literary genre

• is a historical account
• has been written by someone with first-hand knowledge of the time and events
• involves a public portion of the author’s life as it relates to a person, historic event, or thing
• is usually written in the first person

Mystery | Une énigme

Fiction

The mystery literary genre

• deals with a puzzling question or crime that is solved through investigation and the following of clues
• commonly features suspense, adventure, crimes, secrets and detectives

Myth | Une mythologie

Fiction

The myth as a literary genre

• describes the early history of a people or explains some natural or social phenomenon
• usually involves gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings
• reveals human behaviour and/or natural phenomena by its symbolism

Poetry | Une poésie

Fiction

Poetry as a literary genre

• appeals to the thoughts and feelings of the reader
• features compositions including rhyme, imaginative language, and beautiful words
• is usually written in verse rather than in prose

Realistic fiction | Un texte de fiction réaliste

Fiction

The realistic fiction literary genre

• depicts imaginary characters and events in a way that seems true to life
• may include topics such as lifelike family situations, peer relationships, and cultural differences
• is often set in modern times

Romance | Une romance

Fiction

The romance literary genre

• depicts love relationships, often in idealized ways
• typically has an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending
• may be set in any place or time

Satire | Une satire

Fiction

The satire literary genre

• exposes and makes fun of human folly and vice
• commonly uses irony, mockery, sarcasm, and ridicule
• may ridicule the shortcomings of individuals, institutions, or society

Science fiction | Un texte de science-fiction

Fiction

The science fiction literary genre

• depicts the potential effect of scientific changes on an imagined future world and the characters in that world
• typically features futuristic settings, science and technology, space travel, and paranormal abilities

Sport | Un texte de sport

Fiction

The sports literary genre

• explores and celebrates the role and influence of athletics in characters’ lives and/or society
• includes plots and themes that deal with the characters’ participation in sports

Tall tale | Un grand conte

Fiction

The tall tale literary genre

• focuses on key elements of exaggeration
• depicts characters with exaggerated characteristics such as larger-than-life or superhuman abilities