1. Class Notes: Types of Fiction Ancient (early forms): PARABLE, FABLE, and TALE  Parable: brief short story that teaches a lesson often religious or spiritual in nature.  Fable: brief story that point to a moral  Differences between the two: subject, tone, characters, presentation  Aesop’s name is synonymous with the form: fable.  Tale: a story that narrates strange or fabulous happenings A tale is less about meaning, more about emotion and experience

2. Class Notes: The Short Story Made popular in the 19 th Century During this time, fiction centered around everyday life: middle class. Realistic impulse Differs from earlier short fiction: summary vs scene Revelation of character through insight and recognition Typical features of modern realistic short stories are:  Plot sequence of causally related incidents  Recognizably human characters motivated by identifiable social and psychological forces  Realistic settings with established time and place rather than fantasy  The story elements (plot, setting, character, style, point of view, irony, symbolism, and theme) work to unify the story

3. Class Notes: The Nonrealistic Story Mix of supernatural elements with realistic conventions Often leave readers feelings confused, disoriented or unsettled. May use surrealistic action, mystery and riddle Role of the reader: readjust our sense of what we are reading by accepting the break from realistic conventions

4. Class Notes: The Short Novel Called the novella Different from the short story: a slower unfolding of character, incident or idea Different from the novel: single snapshot of time Similar to short story: relies on insight, quick turn of events, and glimpses of understanding to solidify theme or reveal character Main difference from novel: greater efficiency and sharper focus