Unit 1 - Definition, Characteristics and Kinds of Fiction

FICTION
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or
in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather,
imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a
major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical, cinematic or
musical work. Fiction contrasts with non-fiction, which deals exclusively
with factual (or, at least, assumed factual) events, descriptions,
observations, etc. (e.g., biographies, histories).
The term “fiction” originated from a Latin word meaning ‘to make or ‘to
mould’. It is any form of imagined and invented literary composition. In a
narrower sense, fiction denotes only narratives that are written in prose,
dealing with events or information that are not factual, but imaginary.
Although the novel emerged as the most important form of prose fiction in
the eighteenth century, its precursors go back to the oldest literary forms
such as epics and romances.

TYPES OF FICTION
There are three main types of fiction: the short story, the novella and the
novel.
Short Story
According to the famous short story writer Edgar Allan Poe, a short story is
a piece of fiction that can be read in one sitting of about a half hour to about
two hours. Short stories contain between 2,000 and 7,500 words and
typically run no more than 25 or 30 pages. Because of their limited length,
short stories generally focus on one major plot or storyline and a few
characters
Novella
Novellas are longer than short stories and tend to run about 7,500 to
17,500 words, usually between 60 and 120 pages. Because novellas have
more room to work with, they typically have a more complex plot or
storyline and more characters than short stories.
Novel
It is a work of fiction that contains over 50,000 words or 120 pages. Novels
are even more complex than novellas, and they usually have more than
one plot or storyline and many well-developed characters. Novels can be
as long as their authors want them to be. There is no outer limit to their
length.

Short story: A work of at least 2,000 words but under 7,500 words. (5–25
pages.
Novella: A work of at least 17,500 words but under 50,000 words. (60–170
pages)
Elements of Novel
Novel: A work of 50,000 words or more. (about 170+ pages)