Fiction text types - EdexcelDifferent forms of prose fiction
Fiction is usually made up by the writer. Fiction texts could be based on the writer鈥檚 own life experiences or come from their imagination (or be a mixture of the two).
Most proseA straight piece of writing, not poetry. fiction is presented in the form of a novel, novella or short story.
The word 鈥榥ovel鈥 comes from Latin and Italian origin and means 'new鈥. Novels became popular with readers in the 18th century, so are a fairly new type of fiction compared with poetry and drama.
Prose texts are usually defined by their length, though there are other differences:
Short stories
Tell a complete story in a few thousand words.
Have a limited number of characters.
Are sometimes more about conveying an atmosphere than plot.
Often leave questions unanswered for the reader to think about.
Some writers are famous for their short stories. Edgar Allen Poe is a famous American short story writer from the 19th century. His short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) is considered to be one of the first examples of a detective story.
Novellas
Are mid-way in length between short stories and a full-length novel.
Usually have one plot-line.
Are not always divided into chapters.
Some novellas you may have heard of are Charles Dickens鈥 A Christmas Carol or John Steinbeck鈥檚 Of Mice and Men. Although these forms are short, they provide the reader with a vivid snapshot of life and have well developed characters.
Novels
Are a relatively modern form of literature compared to plays and poetry.
Often have a number of different plot lines which can support or contrast each other.
Usually have several characters and their stories.
Are often divided into chapters.
Normally tie up all the loose ends by the end of the book.
Some famous novels which you might have heard of include: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront毛, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Vanity Fair by William Thackeray.