How Genre and Background Knowledge Shape the Way We Read

Khan Academy

This educational video explores the literary concepts of "genre" and "schema," explaining how the types of stories we read shape our expectations and understanding. Using an accessible analogy of the brain as a closet, the narrator illustrates how "schema" acts as the internal infrastructure—like hangers and shoe racks—that allows readers to organize and store new information based on prior knowledge. The video demonstrates how recognized patterns in fiction help us navigate new texts and how reading widely expands this mental framework. The content delves into specific literary themes including tropes, reader expectations, and genre subversion. It uses the classic trope of "the butler did it" to explain how mystery readers form assumptions, and then highlights how Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" famously plays against those expectations. Additionally, the video features a comparative analysis segment using a Venn diagram to show the surprising thematic overlaps between the Star Wars franchise and the Western genre, such as bounty hunters, bar fights, and desert settings. For educators, this video is an excellent tool for introducing metacognition and literary analysis. It moves beyond simple definitions to show how background knowledge actively informs reading comprehension. It provides a visual and relatable way to teach abstract cognitive concepts and models comparative thinking, making it a perfect launchpad for lessons on genre study, comparative literature, or creative writing focused on subverting tropes.