小说选读复习.pdf

1What is fiction? * Any story that is not true or factual. * Literary Fiction * Genre Fiction * Sci-Fi (Science Fiction) * Fantasy 2 * Good science fiction is no different from good fiction in general. * A good read has engaging characters, * good dialogue, * believable conflict, * a character arc for the hero, * and a score of other characteristics of fine literature. * If it doesnt have that, its just another space opera. There are too many of those already. 3What makes good science fiction/fantasy? * I love a good sci-fi that is written well enough that it takes me to the setting. * The characters fit the surroundings but they are believable. * The technical oddities are always a plus- but mostly I like a good story. * The story has to be strong and well thought out. * The universe has to have been thought out well enough as well, that there are not too many plot holes or unanswered questions. 4The Difference Between Good & Bad Literary Fiction * I hate to use the terms good and bad to describe any book because fiction is incredibly subjective and what one person loves, another hates. * Perhaps strong literary fiction versus weak literary fiction are better terms. * But, for simplicitys sake, Ill use good and bad just this once. 5Writers Relief Inc says: * Literary fiction is fiction of ideas. * While the story must be good, emphasis on action is not often as important as emphasis on the ideas, themes, and concerns of the book. * Literary fiction tackles big issues that are often controversial, difficult, and complex. 6Daily Writing Tips says: * The vocabulary in literary fiction may be more extensive than common, * and when the story ends, readers feel theyve learned not just the fate of the characters, but something about the human condition. 7What Makes Good Literary Fiction? * Many of the classic books typically studied in high school and university can be considered literary fiction in terms of the style of their writing. * The majority of them have easily identifiable plots, such as the following (all of which I read and studied): 8 * Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte * Tess of the dUrbervilles, Thomas Hardy * The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald * Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad * To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee * The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje * The Shipping News, E. Annie Proulx * Atonement, Ian McEwan 9What Makes Good Literary Fiction? * So, good literary fiction-at least in my experience- * is that which marries excellent plotting with thought-provoking language, * or that which simply dazzles us with language and characterization even if the plotting remains subtle. * But please note that subtle does not mean non-existent. 10What Makes Bad Literary Fiction? * I dont want to name any names because all books have some redeeming qualities, * but I recently acquired a book that bored to death. * My immediate reaction to the story was that the main character was really the just author writing about himself, in one form or another. * A lot of the action centered on completely irrelevant details, and the dialogue was terribly stilted and amateurish. 11What Makes Bad Literary Fiction? * And, I might add, I was completely bored reading it, because nothing was happening. Absolutely nothing. * Good literary fiction shouldnt bore its reader, even if there isnt a lot of so-called action. * Again I say, if the plot is subtle, then language and characterization must intrigue your reader enough to keep them reading. * Bad literary fiction cant do that. 12Sci-fi and fantasy * Science fiction and fantasy are genres where almost anything can happen - * as long as the author can make it seem plausible, and as long as its part of a good story. * But that doesnt mean there are no rules 13 * If anything, the fact that these genres are so wide open mean that there are tons of rules out there, some unspoken and some written in black and white. 14Some good reads for you! * Whats Eating Gilbert Grape?- Peter Hodges * Running With Scissors- Augusten Burroughs * Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling * Angels and Demons, or The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brow * The Hobbit, or the L.O.T.R. series, by Tolkien * The Odyssey -Homer * The Godfather - Mario Puzo, * The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum * Tom Sawyer-Mark Twain * The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte-Cristo -Alexandre Dumas 1-10 are true or false 1. Plot of a story had 4 parts: Exposition, Analysis, Crisis and Resolution? F 2. To identify the Point of View is actually to identify the narrator. T 3. Point of View constitutes a persons attitude, opinions and concerns for the world. T 4. Character in fiction is a true person who inhabits a story. F 5. Stock characters are those who dont change throughout the story. F 6. The setting of a story is just the place and time where actions took place. F 7. Style is a way of speaking and a mode of symbolism. F 8. Foregrounding is the background setting of a story. F 9. The Iceberg Principle is the part of story with no 。