FICTION

Fiction
•Fiction is the classification for any
story or setting that is imaginary –in
other words, not based strictly on
history or fact.
Fiction can be expressed in a variety
formats, including writings, live
performances, films, television programs,
animations, video games, and role-playing
games though the term originally and most
commonly refers to the narrative forms of
literature including novels, novellas, short
stories and plays. Fiction is occasionally
used in its narrowed sense to mean simply
any “literary narrative”.
A work of fiction is
an act of creative
imagination.
• Since it is based on imagination, the
subject matter in fiction works can be
nearly anything. Fiction can take place in
the present day, the future or the past. It
can incorporate the most fantastical ideas
or follow an everyday life. Some examples
of work of fiction are legends, folk tales,
fairy tales, short stories and any novels.
Two Main Types of Fiction

1. Commercial Fiction
Attracts a broad audience and may
also fall into any subgenre like
mystery, romance, legal thriller,
western, science fiction and so on.
2. Literary Fiction
Often involves social commentary, political
criticism or reflection of the human condition. In
general, it focuses on “introspective, in-depth
character studies” of “interesting complex and
developed” characters. This contract with genre
fiction where plot is the central concern.
 Types of Literary Fiction in
Prose
1. Short stories- Shortest type of fiction whose range in length from
a handful of pages to over thirty pages or at least 2,000 words but
under 7,500 words.
2. Novella- The Novella lies between the short story and the novel
in terms of length and scope. It consists of at least 17,500 words but
under 50,000 words (60-170 pages).
3. Novel- An invented prose narrative of considerable length (50,000
words or more than 170 pages) and a certain complexity that deals
imaginatively with human experience through a considerable
sequence of events involving a group of persons in a specific setting
Types of Genre Fiction
Mainstream Fiction- This is a general term used by publishers and book
seller to describe their commercial and literary work to depict a daily reality
familiar to most people. Their books set on the present time have a
universal item that attracts a broad audience.
Popular Fiction- Used primarily for the convenience of the publishers,
editors, reviewers, and booksellers. They identify in their literary works
different areas of interest that caters to potential readers.
Horror Fiction- Fiction based entirely on physical fear and merely
gruesome.
Science Fiction- also called “fantasy fiction” depicts the worlds and
futuristic technologies that bring the readers far away from the present
time and provide contemplation of contemporary issues.
Adventure Story Fiction- Fiction in which action is the key element,
overshadowing characters, theme and setting. The conflict in an
adventure story is often man against nature.
Romance Fiction- A broad category of fiction that includes novels,
stories, drama, poetry, etc. It is aimed at diverting and entertaining.
Gothic- this fiction is characterized by atmospheric, historical
settings and feature young, beautiful women who win the favour of
handsome, brooding heroes- simultaneously dealing successfully
with some life-threatening menace, either natural or supernatural.
Historical Fiction- Fictional story set in a recognizable period of
history. As well as telling the stories of ordinary people’s lives.
Historical fiction may involve political or social events of the time.
Children’s Fiction- Sometimes called “Juvenile Writing Fiction” because the
works are intended for young audience usually between the ages of two and
sixteen.
Young Adult Fiction- Any type of fiction with a protagonist in the 12 to 16 age
range that speaks to the concern of teenagers or adolescents.
Elements of Fiction
• Plot- The selection of events (story) based on relevance (cause-
effect)and suggestiveness (provocative scenes), ordering of action to
reveal exposition, complication leading to crisis-turn-reversal, and
the resolution which leads to the denouement and ending.
• 2. Character- The sense of physical presence of people, fully fleshed
and with inner life.
• 3. Setting- also scene or atmosphere. Could be a fixed locale or a
“feeling” which invites meanings. It has four functions: setting as an
idea, as a symbol, as an atmosphere and as a motive force.
6. Point of View- the author allows us to see what he
wants us to see and is therefore, a device of selectiveness,
limitation, verisimilitude, and distancing.
5. Irony- Shows contrast between what seems, and what
is, and could be: Dramatic, situational or verbal
discrepancy.
6. Symbolism- doubles as the designation of something
concrete in the story and something intangible and
valuable.
7. Style- implies control of material through
different devices.
8. Theme- is meaning that surfaces and is
communicated with clarity and intensity; should
not be obvious or simply a moral of the story
“My fortes were in math and science but Christine beat me in
speech. Her eloquence and proper English diction was
testament to the quality of school she’s in. But I always
harboured this thought that my strength in math is a
reflection of my masculinity and dominance. This was the
perennial source of our debate and she would beat me with
words which I have to look in the dictionary. Then we would
realize that we’re getting serious at these debates and would
just laugh at the silly things we’re talking. And we would
count the stars as always and wished upon falling stars… but
this time I felt a sense of difference because there is no more
yaya who would call on her from afar and would discontinue
our conversation of different things…”
POEMS
Poems are literary attempts to share personal
experiences and feelings. Since literature in
general, is all about significant human
experiences, poetry’s subject matter is also about
the poet’s personal life or the lives of those
around him. The language is fresh and demanding
because of its subtleties. It also shows images
which leave the reader a sense of delight, awe,
and wonder.
 Types of Poetic
Forms
1. Blank Verse- is poetry written with a precise meter-almost
always iambic pentameter- that does not rhyme.
2. Rhymed Poetry- Rhymed poems rhyme by definition,
although their scheme varies.
3. Free Verse-Is poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme,
metrical pattern, or musical form.
4. Epics-An epic poem is lengthy, narrative work of poetry.
These long poems typically detail extraordinary feats and
adventures of characters from a distant past.
5.Narrative Poetry- Similar to an epic, a narrative poem tells a story.
6. Haiku- Is a three-poetic form originating in japan The first line have
five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line
again has five syllables.
7. Sonnet- A sonnet is a 14-line poem, typically (but not exclusively)
concerning the topic of love. Sonnets contain internal rhymes within
their 14 lines; the exact rhyme scheme depends on the style of the
sonnet.
8. Elegies- Is a poem that reflects upon death or loss. Traditionally it
contains themes of mourning, loss, and reflection. However, it can
also explore themes of redemption and consolation.
9. Ode-Much like an elegy, an ode is a tribute to subject need to be
dead –or even sentient.
10. Lyric Poetry- Refers to the broad category of poetry that
concerns feelings and emotion. This distinguishes it from two
other poetic categories: epic and dramatic.
11. Ballad-is a form of narrative verse that can be either
poetic or musical. It typically follows a pattern of rhymed
quatrains.
12. Soliloquy- Is a monologue in which a character speaks to
him or herself, expressing inner thoughts that an audience
might not otherwise know. Soliloquies are not definitionally
poems, although they often can be-most famously in the plays
of William Shakespeare.
Elements of Poetry
1.The Poetic Line- An idea or feeling which is expressed in one line and
is frequently continued into the next line.
2. The Sound of Words- For the poet to convey ideas, he chooses and
organizes his words into a pattern
of sound that is a part of the total meaning. They are the following:
a. Rhyme- repeats similar sounds in some apparent scheme.
b. Rhythm- is the result of systematically stressing or accenting words
and syllables.
c. Alliteration- refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds in
nearby words, often to create rhythm, mood, or emphasis.
"Big brown bears bumbled by."
d. Assonance- refers to the correspondence of vowel sounds.
e.g. Maiden crowned with glossy blackness
Long armed maid, when she dances
(George Elliott)
e. Onomatopoeia- is a long word that means simply the imitation in words of
natural sounds.
e.g. Hiss, buzz, meow.
3. Meter- is the regularized pattern and rhythm. There are
four conventional types of meter in poetry written in English
each being distinguished from the others by the number
and accent of syllables.
• Iambic meter- the most popular and the most natural to English
expression. Its basic unit or foot is one unaccented and one
accented syllable.

Shall I | comPARE | thee TO | a SUM | mer’s DAY

• Trochaic meter- the reverse of iambic meter. Each foot contains an

BY the | SHORES of | GITche | GUmee

It sounds like:
da-da-DUM

Dactylic meter- Opposite of anapaestic. It is slower and often used to create a strange
mood.

DUM-da-da