Poems, plays and stories

 

In summary

Texts can be fiction or non-fiction. Fiction is made up or invented while non-fiction is

about real life. Any creative work written using imagination is fiction including poems,

plays and stories. This summary will explore different types of fiction and how to

recognise them.

Poems

A poem is a piece of writing written using imagination. Poetry can tell a story, or it can

be about a feeling or an idea. Poems are carefully written, often with short lines

which can rhyme, have rhythm and use a lot of imagery. There are many different

kinds of poetry, for example, haikus, limericks, sonnets and acrostic poems. Each

different type of poetry has its own style and set of rules to follow.

Plays

A play is a story that is performed, usually on a stage. When a play is written down

it’s called a script. Plays are mostly made up of dialogue, but scripts also include

stage directions which tell the actors how to say their lines and move around the

stage, as well as giving instructions about the lighting, scenery and props. If a play

includes songs which the characters sing as part of the plot, it’s called a musical.

Stories

A story is a piece of creative writing such as a novel, a kind of book that tells a

narrative. There are many different types of stories called genres. Every genre has

its own style and set of characteristics. Below you can read about the different

characteristics of some common genres of stories.

Adventure

Adventure stories are exciting, fast-paced and include moments of danger. The main

character is usually a heroic type who has to go on a journey, or a quest, often to

explore an unknown place. Adventure stories use different narrative techniques to

create suspense, such as cliff-hangers.

Mystery

Mystery stories often revolve around a crime or a puzzle. There is a skilled detective

character who has to figure it out, but to make it difficult there are usually lots of

characters who are suspects and all have motives for the crime. Mystery stories are

full of suspense and can even trick the reader. For example, they often have a plot

twist near the end where everything the reader thinks is true is reversed. By the end

of the story the detective solves the case and the villain is revealed.

Fantasy

A fantasy story typically features beings, places or events which couldn’t exist or

happen in real life. Fantasy stories are set in imaginary worlds which have their own

laws involving magic and imaginary creatures. Lots of them have medieval

characteristics such as kings, castles, armies and dragons. The main character is an

often reluctant hero who has to go on a quest so that good can triumph over evil.

Examples

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

by J. K. Rowling