Fiction & Nonfiction
As literature is generally defined as anything written, the concepts of Fiction and Nonfiction are also anything written. However, there are significant differences between them in terms of content and purpose. Fiction deals with the creation of imagined materials, while Nonfiction deals with real materials based on factual information. Understanding these differences is essential for a comprehensive understanding of literature.
1. Fiction
Fiction is defined as non-factual writings that are created by authors using their imagination. It encompasses stories and writings that are entirely based on the author's imaginative ideas. While authors may include some facts about real people or events, they combine these facts with imaginary settings and situations to create captivating narratives. Fiction takes the form of prose (novels and short stories), plays, and poetry, offering a wide range of literary genres and styles.
Forms of Fiction
Fiction encompasses various forms, ranging from major literary genres to minor forms. Some common forms of Fiction include:
- Novels and short stories
- Plays
- Poems
- Fables
- Legends
- Myths
- Folktales
- Tall tales
- Epics
- Trickster tales
- Fairy tales
2. Nonfiction
Nonfiction, on the other hand, is factual writing about real-life situations, people, and experiences. It is created entirely from facts and aims to inform, instruct, and entertain readers. Nonfiction literature includes various forms and genres that provide valuable insights and knowledge about the real world.
Forms of Nonfiction
Common forms of Nonfiction literature include:
- Letters and Journals: Personal reflections and accounts
- Biographies: Life stories of individuals written by other people
- Autobiographies: Authors' personal accounts of their own lives
- Memoirs: Personal records of experiences from an individual's life
- Media Accounts: Works written for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
- Essays: Medium-length writings expressing the author's views or personal feelings on a particular topic
- Articles: Informative writings focusing on the facts of a subject
- History: Factual accounts of real events arranged chronologically
- Diaries: Written accounts of personal experiences and thoughts recorded regularly
- Periodicals: Regularly published magazines, journals, or newspapers
- Instructions Manuals: Written guides providing step-by-step instructions for various tasks or processes
These forms of nonfiction cover a wide range of subjects and purposes, from personal reflections and accounts to informative articles, historical narratives, and instructional materials. They contribute to our understanding of the world and provide valuable insights into real-life situations and events.
Both fiction and nonfiction play significant roles in literature, offering distinct approaches to storytelling and knowledge dissemination. While fiction allows authors to explore imaginative realms and create captivating narratives, nonfiction focuses on presenting factual information and real-life experiences. Understanding the differences between these two concepts enriches our appreciation of literature and broadens our perspectives.
Here are some of the differences between fiction and non-fiction in English Literature.| S/N | FICTION | NONFICTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiction talks about imaginary people, places, ideas, and experiences. | Nonfiction talks about real people, real places, real ideas, and real experiences. |
| 2 | Some common forms of Fiction are novels, plays, poems, and folktales. | Some common forms of Nonfiction are letters, biographies, and essays. |
| 3 | Audiences of Fiction are people who look for nonfactual information that gives them knowledge and pleasure. | Audiences of Nonfiction are people who look for factual information (facts). |
| 4 | The purpose of Fiction is to deliver the message of the writer that can instruct and entertain the readers. | The purpose of Nonfiction is to explain, inform, persuade, and entertain the readers. |
| 5 | Most Fiction writings are narrative, persuasive, and entertaining. | Most Nonfiction writings are argumentative, narrative, and informational/explanatory. |