Fiction 10817 225824607 2008-07-15T15:59:00Z Fieldday-sunday 6803532 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Pink!Teen|Pink!Teen]] to last version by FKmailliW (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Refimprove|date=June 2007}} {{otheruses}} [[Image:Alice par John Tenniel 30.png|thumb|right|An illustration from [[Lewis Carroll]]'s [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]], depicting the fictional [[protagonist]], [[Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Alice]], playing a [[fantasy|fantastical]] game of croquet.]] '''Fiction''' is the telling of stories which are not real. More specifically, fiction is an imaginative form of [[narrative]], one of the four basic [[rhetorical modes]]. Although the word ''fiction'' is derived from the Latin ''fingo, fingere, finxi, fictum'', "to form, create", works of fiction need not be entirely imaginary and may include real people, places, and events. Fiction may be either written or oral. Although not all fiction is necessarily artistic, fiction is largely perceived as a form of [[art]] or [[entertainment]]. The ability to create fiction and other artistic works is considered to be a fundamental aspect of human [[culture]], one of the defining characteristics of [[Human nature|humanity]]. ==Elements of fiction== Even among writing instructors and bestselling authors, there appears to be little consensus regarding the number and composition of the fundamental elements of fiction. For example: * "Fiction has three main elements: plotting, character, and place or setting." {{Harvard citation | Morrell | 2006 | p = 151}} * "A charged image evokes all the other elements of your story—theme, character, conflict, setting, style, and so on." {{Harvard citation | Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing | 1992 | p = 160}} * "For writers, the spices you add to make your plot your own include characters, setting, and dialogue." {{Harvard citation | Bell | 2004 |p = 16}} * "Contained within the framework of a story are the major story elements: characters, action, and conflict." {{Harvard citation | Evanovich | 2006 | p = 83}} * " . . . I think point of view is one of the most fundamental elements of the fiction-writing craft . . ." {{Harvard citation | Selgin | 2007 | p = 41}} As stated by Janet Evanovich, "Effective writing requires an understanding of the fundamental elements of storytelling, such as point of view, dialogue, and setting." {{Harvard citation | Evanovich | 2006 | p = 39}} The debate continues as to the number and composition of the fundamental elements of fiction. [http://www.helium.com/tm/197298/fifth-element-other-stuff] ===Character=== '''[[Characterization]]''' is often listed as one of the fundamental elements of fiction. A '''[[fictional character|character]]''' is a participant in the story, and is usually a person, but may be any persona, identity, or entity whose existence originates from a fictional work or performance. Characters may be of several types: *'''[[Point of view (literature)|Point-of-view]] character''': the character from whom the story is viewed. *'''[[Protagonist]]''': the main character of a story *'''[[Antagonist]]''': the character that stands in opposition to the protagonist *'''Supporting character''': A character that plays a part in the plot but is not major *'''Minor character''': a character in a bit/cameo part ===Plot=== '''[[plot (narrative)|Plot]]''', or storyline, is often listed as one of the fundamental elements of fiction. It is the rendering and ordering of the events and actions of a story. On a micro level, plot consists of action and reaction, also referred to as stimulus and response. On a macro level, plot has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Plot is often depicted as an arc with a zig-zag line to represent the rise and fall of action. Plot also has a mid-level structure: scene and sequel. A [[scene (fiction)|scene]] is a unit of drama—where the action occurs. Then, after a transition of some sort, comes the sequel—an emotional reaction and regrouping, an aftermath. {{Harvard citation | Bickham | 1993 | pp = 23-62}} ===Setting=== '''[[Setting (fiction)|Setting]]''', the location and time of a story, is often listed as one of the fundamental elements of fiction. Sometimes setting is referred to as '''milieu''', to include a context (such as society) beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. In some cases, setting becomes a character itself and can set the tone of a story. {{Harvard citation|Rozelle|2005|p=2}} ===Theme=== '''[[Theme (literary)|Theme]]''', a conceptual distillation of the story, is often listed as one of the fundamental elements of fiction. It is the central idea or insight serving as a unifying element, creating cohesion and is an answer to the question, 'What did you learn from the piece of fiction?' In some cases a story's theme is a prominent element and somewhat unmistakable. {{Harvard citation|Morrell|2006|p=263}} ===Style=== '''Style''' is not so much ''what'' is written, but ''how'' it is written and interpreted. [[Style (fiction)|Style]] in fiction refers to language conventions used to construct the story or article. A fiction writer may manipulate diction, sentence structure, phrasing, dialogue, and other aspects of language to create style or mood. The communicative effect created by the author's style is sometimes referred to as the story's voice. Every writer has his or her own unique style, or voice {{Harvard citation|Provost|1988|p=8}}. Style is sometimes listed as one of the fundamental elements of fiction. ==Categories== {{main|Literary genre}} Types of prose fiction: * [[Flash fiction]]: A work of fewer than 2,000 words. (1,000 by some definitions) (around 5 pages) * [[Short story]]: A work of at least 2,000 words but under 7,500 words. (5-25 pages) * [[Novelette]]: A work of at least 7,500 words but under 17,500 words. (25-60 pages) * [[Novella]]: A work of at least 17,500 words but under 50,000 words. (60-170 pages) * [[Novel]]: A work of 50,000 words or more. (about 170+ pages) * [[Epic poetry|Epic]]: A work of 200,000 words or more. (about 680+ pages){{Fact|date=February 2007}}<ref>counting a page roughly as 300 words.</ref><ref>a professional writer usually writes an average of 500-1000 words per day. [[Stephen King]] stated he writes an average of 2000 words per day, every day.</ref> ==Forms of fiction== Traditionally, fiction includes [[novel]]s, [[short story|short stories]], [[fables]], [[fairy tales]], [[Play (theatre)|plays]], and [[poem]]s, but it now also encompasses [[fictional film|films]], [[comic book]]s, and [[video games]]. The [[Internet]] has had a major impact on the distribution of fiction, calling into question the feasibility of [[copyright]] as a means to ensure [[royalties]] are paid to copyright holders. Also, [[digital libraries]] such as [[Project Gutenberg]] make [[public domain]] texts more readily available. The combination of inexpensive home computers, the Internet and the creativity of its users has also led to new forms of fiction, such as interactive [[computer game]]s or computer-generated comics. Countless forums for [[fan fiction]] can be found online, where loyal followers of specific [[fictional realm]]s create and distribute derivative stories. The Internet is also used for the development of [[blog fiction]], where a story is delivered through a [[blog]] either as flash fiction or [[serialblog]], and [[collaborative fiction]], where a story is written sequentially by different authors, or the entire text can be revised by anyone using [[wiki]]. ==Uses of fiction== Although fiction may be viewed as a form of entertainment, it has other uses. Fiction has been used for instructional purposes, such as fictional examples used in [[school]] textbooks. It may be used in [[propaganda]] and [[advertising]]. It may be perpetuated by parents out of [[tradition]] such as with [[Santa Claus]] or to instill beliefs and values. Although they are not necessarily targeted at children, [[fable]]s offer an explicit moral goal. ==See also== {{wiktionarypar|fiction}} : ''Main list: [[List of basic fiction topics]]'' *[[Fictional character]] *[[Fiction writing]] **[[Fan fiction]] *[[Plot (narrative)]] *[[Pseudohistory]] *[[Setting (literature)]] *[[Style (fiction)]] *[[Theme (literature)]] *[[Writing style]] *[[Non-fiction]] [[Category:Fiction|*]] [[Category:Fiction forms]] [[Category:Narratology|*]] [[Category:Genres]] [[ar:خيال]] [[ca:Ficció]] [[cy:Ffuglen]] [[da:Fiktion]] [[de:Fiktion]] [[et:Ilukirjandus]] [[es:Ficción]] [[eo:Fikcio]] [[fr:Fiction]] [[id:Fiksi]] [[is:Skáldskapur]] [[it:Fiction]] [[la:Fictio]] [[nl:Fictie]] [[ja:フィクション]] [[no:Fiksjon]] [[pl:Fikcja literacka]] [[pt:Ficção]] [[ru:Художественная литература]] [[sq:Fiktiv]] [[simple:Fiction]] [[fi:Fiktio]] [[sv:Fiktion]] [[th:นิยาย]] [[zh:小说]]