Fiction describes the narrative of imaginary events or personalities. The novel and short story are specifically connected to the narrative of imaginary characters or events, unlike historical narratives. A key difference between drama in the Elizabethan era and the emerging novel form was that novels had a greater degree of realism and saw individuals as products of changing historical and social contexts over time.

1. FICTIONFICTION
• FROM THE LATIN FINGERE, FICTIONFROM THE LATIN FINGERE, FICTION
DESCRIBES THE NARRATIVE OF IMAGINARYDESCRIBES THE NARRATIVE OF IMAGINARY
EVENTS OR PERSONALITIES.EVENTS OR PERSONALITIES.
• IT FOCUSES ON:IT FOCUSES ON:
1.1. The communication process.The communication process.
2.2. The verbal nature.The verbal nature.
3.3. The succession of eventsThe succession of events
4.4. The imaginaryThe imaginary
Fiction is the technical word for two literaryFiction is the technical word for two literary
products:the novel and the short story (tale). Bothproducts:the novel and the short story (tale). Both
are specifically connected with the narrative ofare specifically connected with the narrative of
imaginary events or characters as opposed to theimaginary events or characters as opposed to the
narrative of historical events.narrative of historical events.

2. • 1 is referred as NARRATION, 2 as TEXT, 3 and 41 is referred as NARRATION, 2 as TEXT, 3 and 4
as STORYas STORY
• The story is the sequence of narrated events inThe story is the sequence of narrated events in
their chronological order, the plot corresponds totheir chronological order, the plot corresponds to
the actual text (the events may be organizedthe actual text (the events may be organized
according to different criteria for example they canaccording to different criteria for example they can
alternate flashbacks and chronological order)alternate flashbacks and chronological order)
• NARRATION implies 3 elements ofNARRATION implies 3 elements of
communication:communication:
addresser message addresseeaddresser message addressee
Literature is a more complex communication:Literature is a more complex communication:
writer novel,poem, ecc. readerwriter novel,poem, ecc. reader

3. At a deeper level the communication process involves a narrator, theAt a deeper level the communication process involves a narrator, the
speaking voice of the text and a narratee, who is either the explicit orspeaking voice of the text and a narratee, who is either the explicit or
the implicit addressee of the narration.the implicit addressee of the narration.
Author Narrator Text Narratee ReaderAuthor Narrator Text Narratee Reader
example:example:
D.Defoe R. Crusoe Novel an ideal middle Any readerD.Defoe R. Crusoe Novel an ideal middle Any reader
class reader ofclass reader of
his timehis time
The author does not have the actual reader in mind as addressee.The author does not have the actual reader in mind as addressee.
That explains why the greater distance in time between author andThat explains why the greater distance in time between author and
reader, the harder for actual reader to grasp all the meaningsreader, the harder for actual reader to grasp all the meanings

4. NARRATORSNARRATORS
• If the narratee can be explicitly mentioned or implicitlyIf the narratee can be explicitly mentioned or implicitly
present the same is for the narrator but his role is bypresent the same is for the narrator but his role is by
far more important.far more important.
• Two fundamental principles:Two fundamental principles:
1.1. The author and the narrator are two distinct roles. TheThe author and the narrator are two distinct roles. The
author is the person, in flesh and blood who writes theauthor is the person, in flesh and blood who writes the
story, the narrator is a function of the story, thestory, the narrator is a function of the story, the
speaking voice of it,speaking voice of it,
2.2. There cannot be any narrative without a narrator.There cannot be any narrative without a narrator.

5. A narrator can be defined in terms of:A narrator can be defined in terms of:
• His position in the story he narrates; he can be inside (aHis position in the story he narrates; he can be inside (a
character for example) or outside it (unknown).character for example) or outside it (unknown).
• His degree of participation in it; he can be protagonist,His degree of participation in it; he can be protagonist,
witness or both.witness or both.
• The overtness or covertness of his presence in the text:The overtness or covertness of his presence in the text:
he can be intrusive/obtrusive (comment, says hishe can be intrusive/obtrusive (comment, says his
opinion,etc.) or unobtrusive (neutral). He can beopinion,etc.) or unobtrusive (neutral). He can be
omniscient (knows everything about characters, events,omniscient (knows everything about characters, events,
feelings, etc.) or non-omniscient (knows nothing).feelings, etc.) or non-omniscient (knows nothing).
• His reliability (he may guide the reader to make wrongHis reliability (he may guide the reader to make wrong
assumptions).assumptions).

6. THE NOVELTHE NOVEL
• Fiction and novel are not synonymous. The fact is thatFiction and novel are not synonymous. The fact is that
the story is common to both.the story is common to both.
• So long as men have told stories there has been fiction,So long as men have told stories there has been fiction,
whether in verse or prose.whether in verse or prose.
• Novel is something newNovel is something new
• Like any other artist the novelist is a maker. He isLike any other artist the novelist is a maker. He is
making an imitation; an imitation of the life of man onmaking an imitation; an imitation of the life of man on
earth.earth.
• There are many reasons to write novels, to inculcateThere are many reasons to write novels, to inculcate
right conduct, to reforms the manner of the age, toright conduct, to reforms the manner of the age, to
expose social evils but every novelist is driven by theexpose social evils but every novelist is driven by the
impulse of his own skill in writing.impulse of his own skill in writing.

7. THE BEGINNINGSTHE BEGINNINGS
• The sudden appearance at the turn of the 17° c. of theThe sudden appearance at the turn of the 17° c. of the
novel was a manifestation of a marked change inthenovel was a manifestation of a marked change inthe
direction of men’s interests.direction of men’s interests.
• There were no classical models for it.There were no classical models for it.
• Every age has its major literary form and it was in theEvery age has its major literary form and it was in the
drama that the most vital impulses of the Elizabethandrama that the most vital impulses of the Elizabethan
literature found their expression. Drama was the formliterature found their expression. Drama was the form
that fiction took.that fiction took.

8. DIFFERENCES DRAMA-NOVELDIFFERENCES DRAMA-NOVEL
• DRAMADRAMA
• Elizabethans cared nothing for realism.Elizabethans cared nothing for realism.
• Their themes were not men in society.Their themes were not men in society.
• Theatrical effectiveness was much more important thanTheatrical effectiveness was much more important than
plausibility.plausibility.
• Coherence and probability of story did not mean much.Coherence and probability of story did not mean much.
• History scarcely existed as a past something unlike theHistory scarcely existed as a past something unlike the
present.present.
• Time was not something that changed men. (on theTime was not something that changed men. (on the
whole the most important difference with the novel.)whole the most important difference with the novel.)

9. NOVELNOVEL
• It had a greater degree of realism.It had a greater degree of realism.
• There was a fidelity to the facts of the world as menThere was a fidelity to the facts of the world as men
commonly see them.commonly see them.
• Man is seen in a specific time.Man is seen in a specific time.
• There is awareness that the time of the present isThere is awareness that the time of the present is
different from the time of the past.different from the time of the past.
• History and society are seen as constantly changing.History and society are seen as constantly changing.

10. NOVELNOVEL
• It had a greater degree of realism.It had a greater degree of realism.
• There was a fidelity to the facts of the world as menThere was a fidelity to the facts of the world as men
commonly see them.commonly see them.
• Man is seen in a specific time.Man is seen in a specific time.
• There is awareness that the time of the present isThere is awareness that the time of the present is
different from the time of the past.different from the time of the past.
• History and society are seen as constantly changing.History and society are seen as constantly changing.