A BRIEF HISTORY OVERVIEW OF FICTION FICTION DEFINED
A BRIEF HISTORY & OVERVIEW OF FICTION
FICTION DEFINED z. FICTION < A LATIN WORD MEANING TO FORM OR TO MAKE.
FICTION DEFINED (cont. ) z. A FICTION IS A “MADE” STORY, AN IMAGINED & INVENTED LITERARY COMPOSITION DESIGNED TO ENTERTAIN (AND SOMETIMES INSTRUCT), TO MAKE READERS FEEL AND THINK.
FICTION DEFINED (cont. ) z. TODAY THE TERM “FICTION” IS USUALLY APPLIED ONLY TO SHORT STORIES, NOVELS, & NOVELLAS, BUT OTHER LITERARY FORMS (E. G. , PLAYS) ALSO HAVE FICTIONAL ELEMENTS.
HISTORY OF FICTION z. THE HISTORY OF FICTION IS A LONG & COMPLEX ONE.
ANTIQUITY OF STORIES z. STORIES ARE A VERY ANCIENT HUMAN PRODUCT, PRECEDING THE INVENTION OF WRITING, AND THERE IS NO IDENTIFIABLE “FIRST” STORYTELLER OR WORK OF FICTION.
EARLY FORMS OF FICTION z. THE MODERN NOVEL & SHORT STORY WERE PRECEDED BY MANY EARLIER FORMS OF FICTION, SUCH AS MYTHS, LEGENDS, FABLES, FAIRY TALES, PARABLES, AND ALLEGORIES.
EVOLUTION OF FICTION z. OVER THE COURSE OF CENTURIES, WRITERS IN MANY LANGUAGES BEGAN TO FOCUS MORE ON THE ARTISTIC & ENTERTAINMENT POSSIBILITIES OF PROSE, . . .
EVOLUTION OF FICTION (cont. ) z. . . TO EXPLORE HUMAN CHARACTER W/OUT THE NEED TO PREACH & MORALIZE.
MODERN FORMS OF FICTION z. MANY 19 TH-CENTURY WORKS NOW REFERRED TO AS NOVELS WERE CALLED “ROMANCES” BY THEIR AUTHORS (E. G. , THE SCARLET LETTER, MOBY-DICK).
19 TH-CENTURY TALES (cont. ) z. CHARACTERS BECAME MORE FULLY DEVELOPED, BEGAN TO HAVE SPIRITUAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPTH. z. PLOTS BECAME MORE COMPLEX, SETTINGS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED.
19 TH-CENTURY TALES (cont. ) z. OFTEN LED READERS TO WONDER & QUESTION RATHER THAN TO ACCEPT A DIRECTLY STATED MORAL OR LESSON.
NONREALISTIC FICTION z. READING THIS KIND OF LITERATURE REQUIRES THE “WILLING SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF” (S. T. COLERIDGE)—I. E. , WILLINGNESS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY & TO ENJOY CHARACTERS, PLOTS, & SETTINGS THAT ARE STRANGE & IMPLAUSIBLE.
REALISTIC FICTION z. FOCUSES ON SCENES & EVENTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. z. CHARACTERS ARE FULLY DEVELOPED, ORDINARY PEOPLE FULL OF COMPLEXTIES & CONTRADICTIONS.
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