Introduction to

Contemporary, Popular, and

Emergent Literature
 Definition of Fiction
• Fiction refers to prose in which imaginary stories either realistic or
unrealistic are told; which includes: stories, novels, and romances
• A work of fiction implies the inventive construction of an imaginary
world and, most commonly, its fictionality is publicly acknowledged,
so its audience typically expects it to deviate in some ways from the
real world rather than presenting only characters who are actual
people or portrayals that are factually true.
• Fiction refers to books and stories about imaginary people and
events, rather than books about real people or events.
14 Main
Literary
Genres
 14 Main Literary Genres
• Literary Fiction. Literary fiction novels are considered works with artistic value and
literary merit. They often include political criticism, social commentary, and reflection
son humanity. Literary fiction novels are typically character-driven, as opposed to
being plot - driven, and follow a character’s inner story
• Mystery. Mystery novels, also called detective fiction, follow a detective solving a
case from start to finish. They drop clues and slowly reveal information, turning the
reader into a detective trying to solve the case, too. Mystery novels start with an
exciting hook, keep readers interested with suspenseful pacing, and end with a
satisfying conclusion that answers all of the reader’s outstanding questions
• Thriller. Thriller novels are dark, mysterious, and suspenseful plot-driven stories. They
very seldom include comedic elements, but what they lack in humor, they make up
for in suspense. Thrillers keep readers on their toes and use plot twists, red herrings,
and cliffhangers to keep them guessing until the end
 14 Main Literary Genres
• Horror. Horror novels are meant to scare, startle, shock, and even repulse readers.
Generally focusing on themes of death, demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife, they prey
on fears with scary beings like ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and monsters. In
horror fiction, plot and characters are tools used to elicit a terrifying sense of dread
• Historical. Historical fiction novels take place in the past. Written with a careful balance
of research and creativity, they transport readers to another time and place—which can
be real, imagined, or a combination of both. Many historical novels tell stories that
involve actual historical figures or historical events within historical settings
• Romance. Romantic fiction centers around love stories between two people. They’re
lighthearted, optimistic, and have an emotionally satisfying ending. Romance novels do
contain conflict, but it doesn’t overshadow the romantic relationship, which always
prevails in the end
 14 Main Literary Genres
• Western. Western novels tell the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the
western frontier and taming the American Old West. They’re shaped specifically by their
genre-specific elements and rely on them in ways that novels in other fiction genres don’t.
Westerns aren’t as popular as they once were; the golden age of the genre coincided with
the popularity of western films in the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s
• Bildungsroman. Bildungsroman is a literary genre of stories about a character growing
psychologically and morally from their youth into adulthood. Generally, they experience a
profound emotional loss, set out on a journey, encounter conflict, and grow into a mature
person by the end of the story. Literally translated, a bildungsroman is “a novel of
education” or “a novel of formation.”
• Speculative Fiction. Speculative fiction is a supergenre that encompasses a number of
different types of fiction, from science fiction to fantasy to dystopian. The stories take
place in a world different from our own. Speculative fiction knows no boundaries; there
are no limits to what exists beyond the real world.
 14 Main Literary Genres
• Science Fiction. Sci-fi novels are speculative stories with imagined elements that
don’t exist in the real world. Some are inspired by “hard” natural sciences like physics,
chemistry, and astronomy; others are inspired by “soft” social sciences like
psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Common elements of sci-fi novels include
time travel, space exploration, and futuristic societies
• Fantasy. Fantasy novels are speculative fiction stories with imaginary characters set in
imaginary universes. They’re inspired by mythology and folklore and often include
elements of magic. The genre attracts both children and adults; well-known titles
include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and the Harry Potter series
by J.K. Rowling
• Dystopian. Dystopian novels are a genre of science fiction. They’re set in societies
viewed as worse than the one in which we live. Dystopian fiction exists in contrast to
utopian fiction, which is set in societies viewed as better than the one in whitelike
 14 Main Literary Genres
• Magical Realism. Magical realism novels depict the world truthfully,
plus add magical elements. The fantastical elements aren’t viewed as
odd or unique; they’re considered normal in the world in which the
story takes place. The genre was born out of the realist art movement
and is closely associated with Latin American authors
• Realist Literature. Realist fiction novels are set in a time and place
that could actually happen in the real world. They depict real people,
places, and stories in order to beast ruthful as possible. Realist works
of fiction remain true to everyday life and abide by the laws of nature
as we currently understand them
7 Key Elements
of Fiction
 Character
There are two meanings for the word character:
1) The person in a work of fiction.
2) The characteristics of a person.

Persons in a work of fiction - Antagonist and Protagonist

• One character is clearly central to a story with all major events having
some connection to this character. She/he is the protagonist.
• The character in opposition to the main character is called the
antagonist.
 Character
• Characters are convincing if they are: consistent, motivated and life-
like (resemble real people)
a) Individual - round, many sided and complex personalities
b) Developing - dynamic, many sided personalities that change (for
better or worse) by the end of the story
c) Static – Stereotypes; they have one or two characteristics that
never change and are often over-emphasized.
 Theme
• The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching.
• The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people
behave.
• In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not
presented directly at all.
• The readers extract it from the characters, action and setting that make up
the story. The writer's task is to communicate on a common ground with
the reader.
• Although the particulars of the experience may be different from the
details of the story, the general underlying truths behind the story may be
just the connection that both the reader and the writer are seeking.
 Theme
• Here are some ways to uncover the theme in a story:
a) Check out the title. Sometimes it tells a lot about the theme.
b) Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead to the theme.
c) What allusions are made throughout the story?
d) What are the details and particulars in the story? What greater meaning
may they have?
• Remember that theme, plot and structure are inseparable, all helping to
inform and reflect back on each other.
• Also, be aware that a theme we determine from a story never completely
explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole.
 Plot
• It is a causal sequence of events, the "why" for the things that happen
in the story.
• The plot draws the reader into the characters’ lives and helps the
reader understand the choices that the characters make.
• A plot's structure is the way in which the story elements are arranged.
Writers vary structure depending on the needs of the story. For
example, in a mystery, the author will withhold plot exposition until
later in the story.
 Plot
• Narrative tradition calls for developing stories with particular pieces -plot elements –
in place.
a. Exposition is the information needed to understand a story.
b. Complication is the catalyst that begins the major conflict.
c. Climax is the turning point in the story that occurs when characters try to resolve
the complication.
d. Resolution is the set of events that bring the story to a close.

• It's not always a straight line from the beginning to the end of story. Sometimes,
there is a shifting of time and this is the way we learn what happened and why; it
keeps us interested in the story. But, good stories always have all the plot elements in
them.
 Point of View
• Someone is always between the reader and the action of the
story.
• That someone is telling the story from his or her own point
of view.
• This angle of vision, the point of view from which the people,
 Point of View
A. Objective Point of View
• the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be
inferred from the story’s action and dialogue.
• The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think
or feel, remaining a detached observer.
B. Third Person Point of View
• The narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the
characters, but lets the readers know exactly how the characters feel.
• Learning about the characters is done through this outside voice.
 Point of View
C. First Person Point of View
• The narrator does participate in the action of the story.
• When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what
the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth.  We should
question the trustworthiness of the accounting.
D. Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of View
• A narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all
knowing, or omniscient.
• A narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or
minor, has a limited omniscient point of view
 Setting
• Writers describe the world they know. Sights, sounds, colors
and textures are all vividly painted in words as an artist
paints images on canvas. A writer imagines a story to be
happening in a place that is rooted in his or her mind.
• The location of a story's actions, along with the time in which
it occurs, is the setting. Setting is created by language. How
many or how few details we learn is up to the author. Many
authors leave a lot of these details up to the reader's
imagination.
 Setting
• Some or all of these aspects of setting should be considered when examining a
story:
a. place - geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place?
b. time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc.)
c. weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.?
d. Social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story
contain local colour (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms,
customs, etc. of a particular place)
e. mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is
it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?
 Conflict
• Is the essence of fiction. It creates plot

Four kinds of conflict

a. Human versus Human - conflict that pits one person against
another.
b. Human versus Nature - this involves a run-in with the forces
of nature. On one hand, it expresses the insignificance of a
single human life in the cosmic scheme of things. On the other
hand, it tests the limits of a person’s strength and will to live.
 Conflict
c. Human versus Society - the values and customs by which everyone else
lives are being challenged. The character may come to an untimely end as a
result of his or her own convictions. The character may, on the other hand,
bring others around to a sympathetic point of view, or it may be decided that
society was right after all.
d. Human versus Self -internal conflict. Not all conflict involves other people.
Sometimes people are their own worst enemies. An internal conflict is a good
test of a character’s values. Does he/she give in to temptation or rise above
it? Does he/she demand the most from him/herself or settle for something
less? Does he/she even bother to struggle? The internal conflicts of a
character and how they are resolved are good clues to the character’s inner
strength.
 Tone
• In literature, tone is the emotional colouring or the emotional meaning of the
work and provides an extremely important contribution to the full meaning.
• In spoken language, it is indicated by the inflection of the speaker's voice.
• The emotional meaning of a statement may vary widely according to the tone
of voice with which it is uttered; the tone may be ecstatic, incredulous,
despairing, resigned, etc.
• In poetry, we cannot really understand a poem unless we have accurately
sensed whether the attitude it manifests is playful or solemn, mocking or
reverent, calm or excited.
• In spoken language, the speaker's voice can guide us to the tone. But, the
correct determination of tone in literature is a much more delicate matter.