Page 2 Genres

Literature is in various genres or types such as: 

  • historical fiction
  • romance
  • western
  • horror
  • mystery
  • fantasy
  • science fiction
Setting is important to both “A Hero’s Welcome” and “The Veldt”.

Historical Fiction
Historical fiction deals with:
  • past events
  • authentic, believable details
“A Hero’s Welcome” is historical fiction based on events after World War II.

Science Fiction
Science fiction deals with: 

  • imaginary events
  • unusual worlds usually in outer space
  • fantastic creatures such as robots or amazing machines
  • the future , sometimes through time travel



A utopian story is about a perfect future world.
A dystopian story is about a frightening future society.

Dystopian stories can have the following problems:

  • people allow science to destroy nature
  • technology (computers, robots, or machines) can try to take over
  • science or technology can be used for evil purposes


Horror
Horror deals with:
  • fear based on how truth, order, and beauty are threatened. What is especially fearful is if something beautiful is paired with something evil. For example, one expects bullying to occur in a grey, cold prison with chains. The setting matches one’s expectations. One does not expect bullying to be set in a rose garden with classical piano music playing. Therefore, the feeling of horror increases.
  • foreshadowing or sense of mystery
  • suspense
  • surprise
“The Veldt” could be categorized as both science fiction and horror.



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