Fiction is a work of imagination, including books and films. Its characteristics include character, plot, point of view, setting, style, and theme. These elements can vary in importance and are subjective. Fiction is not limited by these features and can go beyond them.
Fiction is any work of fiction in which the events that take place are imaginary. Anything that falls within the parameters of this definition can generally be a work of fiction, regardless of format or genre. For example, a fantasy book may be fiction, and the same is true for a science fiction film. Characteristics of fiction vary, depending on personal opinion, but the usual elements that different people will list are character, plot, and point of view. The setting, style and theme are additional features of the fiction.
A character is a figure in the story who can play a major or minor role. Characterization, the method by which the author shows who a character is, reveals him to be static or flat, dynamic or rounded. Plot is the action, or sequence of events, that makes up the story; the main elements of a typical storyline include conflict, climax, and resolution. Point of view refers to how the author tells the story and from whose perspective. For example, a story might be told by the main character using a first person point of view or by a narrator using a third person point of view.
Setting is the time, place, and social environment in which the story takes place; it is the setting that forms the backdrop for the development of the characters and the plot. Style refers to how the author uses language to tell the story. The author’s choice of words, or diction, as well as how he uses those words, or syntax, constitute the writing style and, therefore, the tone of the story. Theme is the main idea or meaning of the story; in general, it is the message that comes from the story. The idea of a theme can sometimes be difficult to grasp and does not necessarily relate to morals; it is also not to be confused with the story’s plot or subject matter.
As fundamental as these core features of fiction are, it is important to understand that works of fiction are not bound by them. Since fiction is partially or wholly imagined by its author, and many other fictional works go out of bounds. Furthermore, the value of some fictional features over others is subjective. An author who doesn’t see the importance of setting in the context of his story, for example, might de-emphasize it in favor of other features.
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