Literary Fiction

Literary fiction: meaning

Where did the term come from, when did it become popular, and how is it used today?

Literary fiction is sometimes referred to as 'non-genre' fiction, as it refers to stories that do not fit into one specific genre. The story in a piece of literary fiction will be driven by the character, not the action of the tale. Arguably, the first literary fiction novel was Don Quixote (1605-1615) written by Miguel de Cervantes. This story followed the character Don Quixote, whose experiences and introspection drive the action of the story.

Since Don Quixote's release in 1615, the novel has contributed to an influential mode of narration. Due to this, literary fiction has developed rapidly alongside the novel. As literary fiction grew, different characteristics and types emerged alongside, including contemporary, realistic, experimental, and philosophical fiction. However, at its core, all literary fiction will in some way study the human condition and the society we live in.

Literary fiction: elements

Let's look at the different elements that make up literary fiction.

Narrative

Narratives found in works of literary fiction will be driven by the characters. This means that the novel will focus on the innermost thoughts and lives of the characters rather than the action of the story.

Novels that are written as character-based narratives will have a more introspective tone than other books. An example of a character-driven narrative is Ottessa Moshfegh's 2018 novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation. The novel follows a protagonist who wishes to sleep for one year. This means that the novel's narrative is driven by the internal thoughts and development of the protagonist. Consider the extract below:

Plot

As the narrative of a work of literary fiction is driven by the characters, this means that there is no fixed plot formula in these novels. The action of the novel does not have to occur in a specific order or way. Authors of literary fiction works can use non-linear storytelling in their works.

Themes

Works of literary fiction tend to focus on a few central themes.

Themes explored in literary fiction include the human condition, history, and culture. Many novels use the inner lives of their story's characters to explore these ideas. Novels such as The Trial (1925) by Franza Kafka discuss themes of humanity and the absurd through existentialist philosophy. This is to say that the novel is used to discuss the philosophy that the world is irrational and no person truly knows their own self.

Literary devices in fiction

Literary devices are found in all pieces of fiction.

However, there are specific devices that are used heavily within literary fiction. These devices are used to allow the author to explore a more character-driven, introspective plot. The literary devices found most often in literary fiction are metaphor and symbolism.

Metaphor

Metaphors are used in literary fiction to further explore the core themes of the novel. As metaphors are a literary device that rely on comparison, they can be used to better describe what is happening to the characters in the story.

Symbolism

Symbolism differs from metaphor as no comparison is being made here.

This literary device can be found frequently in literary fiction as symbols can be used to represent themes in the story.

Types and examples of literary fiction

The following section examines four types of literary fiction, namely contemporary, realistic, experimental, and philosophical.

Contemporary

Contemporary literary fiction includes novels that are responding to current social or political questions. Novels written in this way may discuss themes of class, gender, sexuality, or race.

Realistic

Realistic literary fiction is fiction that aims to show life 'as it is'. These works will typically use an omniscient narrator who will relay the character's thoughts and feelings.

Experimental

The aim of experimental literary fiction is to challenge the reader and their previous conceptions of storytelling. Experimental literary fiction will question tropes, traditions, and genre rules. This is done through means such as non-linear narrative structures or including other media in the novel.

Philosophical

Philosophical literary fiction will explore philosophical ideas through a fictional narrative. In literary fiction, this tends to involve stories that examine the human condition, free will, and what it means to exist.

Literary fiction: books

Let's take a look at some popular books of literary fiction.

Giovanni's Room (1956) - James Baldwin

James Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room (1956) is an example of contemporary literary fiction. It fits into this category as it follows the life of an American man in Paris in the 1950s. The novel follows him as he begins an affair, and tries to explore his sexuality. This novel is contemporary literary fiction as it explores themes of masculinity and sexuality, which would have been hotly debated topics in the 1950s.

Catch-22 (1961) - Joseph Heller

Catch-22 (1961) is a piece of experimental literary fiction, as many events in the novel are repeated from different points of view. The novel is a satirical take on war and follows a soldier named Yossarian through World War II. During the novel, Yossarian is then placed in ever more illogical and absurd situations. The novel explores themes of religion, war, and death to discuss the dangers of a bureaucracy and absolute control.

Things Fall Apart (1958) - Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart (1958) by Chinua Achebe is a work of realistic literary fiction. Achebe's novel explores pre-colonial life in Nigeria, as well as the arrival of European colonists during the late 1800s. This is a work of realistic literary fiction as it reflects the real-life events that occurred in Nigeria during this time period. The novel uses this setting to explore themes of language, generational differences, and colonisation.

Literary fiction vs genre fiction

Genre fiction is a popular category of novel that can be found anywhere books are sold in your day to day life. It refers to novels that fit into specific genres, such as horror, or comedy. Works of genre fiction will use clearer plot structures than literary fiction. These types of novels are not character-driven, but rather driven by the action of the story.

However, genre fiction and literary fiction are not mutually exclusive categories, and novels can fit into both categories at once. A notable example of this is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818). This novel is a work of literary fiction, while also belonging to the horror novel genre.

Literary fiction: impact and relevance

While genre fiction may be more popular, literary fiction still has an important role in literature. Works of literary fiction are important as they are typically novels that endure over the centuries. Novels such as Don Quixote and Ulysses were written over 100 years ago, and are still relevant today. Literary fiction is also important due to how innovative the form can be. Experimental literary fiction allows authors to be more creative when presenting a story.