Lesson 7 — Activity 3: Fiction
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Lesson 7 — Activity 3: Fiction
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Fiction writing is based on imagined events. We might find examples of fiction in school textbooks for classes such as English. Sometimes the fiction category of literature is divided into two smaller categories of genre: prose and poetry.
The term prose describes the way the fiction is written: it generally uses ordinary language and sentence structure. Prose fiction includes short stories, novels, and plays.
The term prose describes the way the fiction is written: it generally uses ordinary language and sentence structure. Prose fiction includes short stories, novels, and plays.
A short story is a fictional tale that is only a few pages long. It would take a collection of short stories to make a book.
"The Monkey's Paw" is an example of a supernatural short story. In this story, three wishes are granted to the owners of the monkey's paw, but the wishes come at a very high price!
"The Monkey's Paw" is an example of a supernatural short story. In this story, three wishes are granted to the owners of the monkey's paw, but the wishes come at a very high price!
A novel is also a fictional tale, but it is long enough by itself to be put into book form.
A play is a story that can be read, but it is meant to be acted on a stage.
Also, plays can be written for an audience to listen to on the radio.
Also, plays can be written for an audience to listen to on the radio.
Poetry may tell fictional stories, but they tell them in less-structured ways than prose forms.
Poems:
Poems:
- may or may not rhyme
- may be separated into verses or stanzas rather than paragraphs
- may use very expressive and descriptive language
- may not use complete sentences or other conventions of prose
- are usually shorter than a short story and often are more about feelings or emotions than events
Raise your words,
not your voice.
It is rain that
grows flowers,
not thunder.
~ Rumi
Remember that genre can also refer to the type of story. Historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and folktales are all examples of genre.
Historical fiction:
stories that involve imaginary characters but are set in real times and around real events of the past
Realistic fiction:
stories that take place in the present;
they include characters and situations that could really happen but are still made up by the author
they include characters and situations that could really happen but are still made up by the author
Fantasy:
stories that involve imaginary characters, places, and events
stories that involve imaginary characters, places, and events
Science fiction:
stories that involve futuristic characters and special technology
Mystery:
stories where the main character is trying to solve a crime and is looking for clues and leads
stories where the main character is trying to solve a crime and is looking for clues and leads
Folktale:
short, traditional stories that teach lessons, sometimes through the experiences of animals;
some folktales include tricksters who play tricks on or outsmart other characters
short, traditional stories that teach lessons, sometimes through the experiences of animals;
some folktales include tricksters who play tricks on or outsmart other characters