Classifying Literature Genres and Subgenres 2 t r

Classifying Literature: Genres and Subgenres 2: t r a P ma a r D And e or l k l Fo

After This Lesson… § Students will classify a literary work as a specific genre by applying context clues and justify their reasoning by citing evidence.

Writing that ap : e r n Ge a m a r D pears as a scrip t

What is Drama? A script used to tell a story on stage (play) or in film (movie or TV show) Relies on dialogue (spoken words) q There are two subgenres of Drama: q Comedy q Tragedy

Subgenre: Comedy Story that uses humor Usually has a happy ending Upbeat, bright language

Comedy Examples q Midsummer Night's Dream q Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead q Much Ado About Nothing q The Importance of Being Ernest

Subgenre: Tragedy Very serious, somber tone Usually ends in death and sadness Dark, foreboding language

Tragedy Examples q. Romeo and Juliet q. The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

: e r n Ge e r o l k l Fo Stories that we re handed dow n through oral tr adition

What is Folklore? Usually has an “unknown” author or will be “retold” or “adapted” by the author. q. There are 5 subgenres of Folklore: q. Tall Tales q. Myths q. Fables q. Legend q. Fairy Tale

Subgenre: Tall Tales Set in the Wild West or American Frontier Skills/size/strength of main characters are greatly exaggerated Exaggeration is humorous

Tall Tale Examples § Pecos Bill § Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox § John Henry § Daniel Boone

Subgenre: Myths Tells a story of the Gods/Goddesses Roman or Greek origin Usually tells of the creation of something

Myths Examples § Hercules § Persephone § The Titans § Helen of Troy

Subgenre: Fables Short stories Animals are personified (given human traits) Each story has a moral (a lesson or message)

Fables Examples § The Tortoise and the Hare § The Fox and the Grapes § Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby

Subgenre: Legend Based on a real person or place Facts are stretched beyond non-fiction Exaggerations are serious

Legend Examples q. The Iliad and The Odyssey q. Beowulf q. Jason and the Argonauts

Subgenre: Fairy Tale Contains stories of magic and/or talking animals q. Usually begins “Once upon a time…” Like fantasy, but is much older Often has a human main character

Fairy Tale Examples § Many classic Disney movies § Cinderella, Snow White, etc. § Rapunzel § Rumpelstiltskin § Hansel and Gretl

1. Each slide e c i t c a Pr will describe a piece of writing. 2. You will w rite the genr e and subgen re in your note s.

1 “Story of Robin Hood” by unknown Robin Hood is a highly-skilled archer and outlaw who actually existed. He is known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" assisted by a group of outlaws known as his "Merry Men". There are many songs and stories about him. Though he was a real person, many of the facts surrounding him have been distorted or greatly exaggerated. Genre: ____________________ Subgenre:

2 Story of Achilles by unknown During the Trojan War, Achilles was the Greek's best warrior. His mother, assisted by the gods, held him by his heel when she dipped him in the River Styx making him immortal everywhere but his heel. Genre: _____________________ Subgenre: ___________________

3 Hamlet by William Shakespeare A play about Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who was devastated by his father's death. Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, who tells him that his uncle, Claudius poisoned him and that is how he died. Hamlet is enraged and seeks revenge on Claudius, who married Hamlet’s mother in order to get at the crown, which rightfully belonged to Hamlet. One day, Hamlet engages in a dual with his true love Ophelia's brother Laertes. However, Hamlet does not know that Laertes and the king have secretly plotted revenge against Hamlet for killing Laertes' and Ophelia's father. The king poisoned a glass of wine and Laertes poisoned his sword, one of which would surely kill the Prince. However, things go amiss when the Queen drinks the poisoned wine and falls dead. Laertes slices Hamlet's arm with his poisoned sword. He slays king Claudius, and also Laertes when he discovers the sword had poisoned him. They all die in the end. Genre: _______________________________ ___ Subgenre: _______________________________ _

4 “The Ant & The Grasshopper” Adapted by Chad Peplum The really short story of an Ant who works hard all summer to prepare for winter and a Grasshopper who just plays. Winter comes and the Grasshopper freezes to death. The moral is “prepare today for tomorrow’s needs. ” Genre: _____________________ Subgenre:

5 “The Lion and the Mouse” by unknown A lion almost eats a mouse that woke him, but the mouse begs forgiveness and promises to return the favor. The lion lets the mouse go. Later, the lion is captured by hunters and tied to a tree; the lion roars for help. The mouse hears the lion's pleas and frees him by gnawing through the ropes. The last line of the story is: “Little friends may prove great friends. ” Genre: ____________________ Subgenre: ___________________

6 Davy Crockett and the Frozen Dawn retold by S. E. Schlosser One winter, it was so cold that the dawn froze solid. Davy Crockett was headed home after a successful night hunting and had a freshly killed bear on his back. He whipped it off, climbed right up on those rays of sunlight and began beating the hot bear carcass against the ice blocks which were squashing the sun. Soon a gush of hot oil burst out of the bear, and it melted the ice. Davy gave the sun a good hard kick to get it started, and the sun's heat unfroze the earth and started it spinning again. Genre: ______________ Subgenre: _____________