| A | B |
|---|
| poetry | a verse written to inspire thought by the reader |
| folktale | a story, often with a message, that was initially passed on by word of mouth |
| myth | tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes |
| legend | every culture has their own stories about the past |
| fairy tale | begins with "Once upon a time..." Usually has magic, kingdoms |
| tall tale | highly exaggerated story such as Paul Bunyan or Casey at the Bat |
| drama | story written to be performed by actors |
| fable | brief story with animals that teaches a moral lesson stated at the end |
| adventure | action packed plot - characters face challenges in nature |
| song | poetry or writing put to music |
| fantasy | a story including elements that are impossible such as talking animals or magical powers |
| mystery | a suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until the end of the story |
| historical fiction | fictional story with real and invented characters that takes place during a historical time |
| science fiction | a story that blends futuristic technology with scientific fact and fiction |
| realistic fiction | a story using made-up characters that takes place in modern times |
| biography | the story of a real person's life that is written by another person |
| autobiography | the story of a real person's life that is written by that person |
| nonfiction | all the information is based on true facts and not made-up |
