Description of Fiction

Description of Fiction

When asked to describe fiction, the first thing to come into my mind is a dictionary type definition. Our book describes fiction as, “an imaginative work, usually a prose narrative (novel, short story) that reports incidents that did not in fact occur”. I personally don’t think that description does any justice to fiction as an Art form. At the beginning of this term I don’t think I had a very accurate view of fiction, and I’m not even sure if I do now.

I have noticed through all the reading we have done this term that these, “fictional stories” happen every day. Everyday somewhere on earth a mother loses a perfect son, just like in the story “Samuel” by Grace Paley. His name might not be Samuel, but the pain and anguish is the same. I believe that fiction paints a story of life, and you don’t have to look very far to find someone or something you can associate with. I have also noticed that fiction can take you to a place you don’t necessarily see around you everyday. As the story evolves it might bring you somewhere you never thought you would go. I found this to be true in the story “The Rumor” by John Updike. Before I read the rumor, I read A&P, also written by Updike. I could really associate with the main character Sammy. The story was funny and I really enjoyed it, so needless to say I

was excited to read the rumor. After finishing it, the rumor just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t really enjoy the story line, and the language that was used to describe Frank’s struggles with homosexuality. I guess that ending was fitting, that that rumor that Frank was gay would cause him to in fact become gay. This story