WHAT IS FICTION AND WHAT IS NOT?

 What is the medium of fictions?

 Is it in verse or prose?

 What does the term fiction entail?

 Can we classify epics and long narrative poems

as fiction?
 Thus, how can you define fiction?

 Fiction refers to prose in which imaginary stories

either realistic or unrealistic are told; which
includes: stories, novels, and romances.
THE EVOLUTION OF FICTION ALONG HISTORY
Early
Tales
about
Fairy humans
Tales • Later or
• The concurren Romances
oldest t to Fables •1st realistic
stories & Fairy fiction in
known Tales English

Fables Modern
•Allied Fiction Novels
to Fairy
tales •Slow
process
evolution
1. FAIRY TALES

Fairy Tales & Fables were the earliest

stories in history.

Found in every culture and

language.

Imaginary story in which principles

characters are supernatural beings.

With supernatural powers, can fly, be

invisible, carry mountains…etc
CLASSES OF FAIRY TALES

1. Fairies Proper
• Delicate Creatures
• Ex: The fairy in Cinderella & the Fairies in
Wild Swans

2. Giants
• Huge in size
• Ex: The Giant in Aladdin and his Magic
Lamp

3. Ghosts
• Spirits of the death
• Wicked
• Ex: Ghosts in the Arabian Nights
 2. FABLES

Definition • Stories about animals gifted with the power of

speech.

Origin • Some originated from Greece by Aesop

• Others from India , Ex: Panchatantra.

Aesop’s • Were translated to nearly every language.

• Children’s stories.

Fables • Allegorical representing humans by animals.

• Human attributes were given to animals.
CLASSES OF FABLES
1. Straightforward animal stories
• The characters are animals we know about.
• Ex: lions, serpents, cocks, hens, swans,
donkeys, rabbits, etc.

2. Imaginary animals
• Animals have never existed.
• Ex: winged dragons breathing fire, unicorns,
mermaids, phoenix, flying horses, etc..
• These animals possess certain human
attributes.
3. EARLY TALES ABOUT HUMANS

Stories about imaginary world in which the right and

Definition wrong are balanced, with pictures of desired life
should be.

Rules & Violated laws of

time, space, and
About human,
supernatural
Themes reality
beings, &
animals.

Early Metamorphoses
By the Latin
Kata-Serita-
Sagara from
tales author Ovid India
3. EARLY TALES ABOUT HUMANS
Decameron by Boccaccio (14th c.)
• Theme: Temporary exile
• Varied narrative between realistic and marvelous mediaeval
Europe.
• Exposed religious hypocrisy.

The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer (14th C.)

• A collection of stories written in verse.
• Dramatic framework of dialogues and quarrels of the
narrators make the stories so realistic as if it was written by
a modern author

The Arabian Nights (One Thousand and a Night) by Hazar Afsana

(16th C.)
• A collection of miscellaneous tales
• Stories are enclosed with a concentric framework.
• Ex. Ali Baba and the Fourty Thieves, Aladin and His Magic Lamp, The Four
Dervishes.
• Marks the evolution of fiction.
• Portrayed human greed, cruelty, and love.
• Depicted princes, princesses, merchants, vendors, with unrealistic
supernatural influence or miraculous change of state.
4. MODERN FICTION
 How does modern fiction differ from the previous
types of fiction?
 Does it follow any rules?

 What is the main concept that authors adhere to

in this type?
 How can you define modern fiction?

 Stories that give representation of life as it

actually is with out supernatural elements.
4. MODERN FICTION

Convincing • Normal people

• In any place

• No excess emotions

Realistic • Restricted by limits of

possible.
• Normal human conduct

Modern or • Characters of flesh and

blood not statues
past • Real feelings
5. ROMANCES

The 1st to be written of realistic fiction

in 16th C.

• 2 works prepared the stage foe fiction: Arcadia &

Euphues

Romances describe long versified

narratives about mediaeval knights in
15th C.
• Collection of Arthurian tales by Sir Thomas
Malory entitled: Morte d’Arthur
5. ROMANCES

Arcadia by Philip Sidney is

about an imaginary country
ruled by a king who has 2
daughters.

Euphues by John Lyly is a

bout a man who was exiled
from his country and
warned people from royalty.
THE NOEL & ITS STRUCTURE
 Arrived in England in 18th C.
 Realistic portrayal of society.

 The greatest of English Lit. is Tom Jones by Fielding.

 The difference between Tom Jones and Euphues is

based on the level of realism in the characters.
Structure The Novel is loose with no definite structure like drama
of the
novel Details & elaboration are what matters the most.

The size of novels are bigger than Arabian Nights &

Decameron

David Copperfield by Dickens: 600 pages

Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky: 2000 pages
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin: 325 pages

Some novelists wrote the well-defined structure of a

tragedy (beginning, middle, end)
Ex: The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

The writer can move in describing times freely.

Can provide as any sub-plots as he wishes.
Ex. David Copperfield & Pickwick Papers by Dickens
CLASSIFICATION OF NOVELS
 Novels can be classified according to subject matter and aim.
 2 broad classes of novel depending on the emphasis on fact or
fancy

Realistic Romantic

• Focus: life • Focus: emotions,

• Portray: pain, feelings, optimistic
misery, suffering, • Ex: Old Curiosity
reactions. Shop by Dickens in
• Ex: Madam Bovary which a romantic
by Flaubert, which halo is woven
discusses in detail around the little girl
the state of mind of (heroine) of the
Madam Bovary. novel
TYPES OF NOVEL
 What are the factors by which we can classify
novels?
Subject, structure, organization, characterization,
so on.
 Who plays a role in classifying novels?

Critics determine the kind according to the way

the critic approaches it.
 Can a novel by listed under several types?

Yes, for example, Kipling’s Kim can be described

as a picaresque novel, a descriptive novel, a
satire, or a psychological study in racial
confrontations.
 Social
Spy stories Domestic

Detective Historical

Classific
Autobiogra
Terror
phical

ations of
Science
fiction Novel Picaresque

Humorous Satirical

Stream of
consciousn Allegorical
ess Epistolary