Fiction vs Literature: Difference and Comparison

From William Shakespeare to Durjoy Dutta, every novelist knows the meaning of every word and why it’s necessary. We all arrange these 26 bets in some way that make sense.

Literature and fiction are considered when discussing stories, poetry, and more.

Key Takeaways

  1. Fiction refers to imaginative stories or characters that are not based on reality, while Literature encompasses all forms of written works, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama.
  2. Fiction can be used for entertainment or escapism, while Literature explores deeper themes and can have social or cultural significance.
  3. Fiction can be written by anyone, while Literature refers to works of recognized artistic value and is studied in academic settings.

Fiction vs Literature

The difference between fiction and literature is that fiction means imagination and stories. Novels must be fictitious, while literature could be fiction or non-fiction.

It doesn’t limit access in the case of literature. Literature is a vast art form if we consider both parts, fiction and non-fiction, while fiction is a limited art form.

Fiction vs Literature

Fiction needs the imagination to describe or narrate the stories or tales. In fiction, the characters are supposed to be imaginary.

They should neither be based on real characters nor the script’s storyline. It requires strong imagination to make a storyline meaningful and attractive. Besides, it is a bit simpler.

Literature is a collective term that incorporates various styles of writing and genres and encompasses various forms like poetry and stories that help you to carve your mindset.

Moreover, the literature focuses on understanding life rather than running from it. Literature is considered the finest art form, incorporating various verses and meaningful stories.

However, they could be confusing, but the meaning is profound.

Comparison Table

Parameters Of ComparisonFictionLiterature
DefinitionFiction focuses on imagination and non-real protagonists and antagonists. It’s like a subset of Literature.Literature comprises both fiction and nonfiction Storylines.
It’s a collective term for writing genres and styles.
StorylineFiction comprises an unrealistic storyline along with Fictional characters.Literature is considered royal and classic and preferred most of the time.
UnderstandingFiction is less royal since it’s imaginary and an everyday thing.The storyline could be realistic based on some autobiography or the truth.
RoyaltyLiterature is believed that it is difficult to make to frame and make.Fiction is relatively straightforward from the beginning and easily understood by the reader.
LevelLiterature is considered royal and classic and is preferred most of the time.Fiction is quite more straightforward because it takes imagination and little framing.

What is Fiction?

“There was a king who fell for a queen. Eventually, the bond became stronger, and they decided to engage. Then comes a villain who abducts the queen.

The king fought the villain and eliminated him. Then the queen and king live peacefully forever”. Maybe this is not true. Perhaps the king never existed, nor the queen.

This kind of artwork which requires imagination and not the actual storyline is considered fiction. A fictional book comprises characters and a story which are not genuine or didn’t exist in reality.

It could follow any medium of communication. It consists of places, events, and people that didn’t exist.

It can be expressed, as we discussed, in many ways. It could be a novel, tale, stage play, narration, television program, radio drama, comics, role-playing game, video game, and more.

If we take a real example, the stories and achievements of Chacha Chaudhary are impeccable.

The way he destroys the enemy it’s based on imagination. Like TV serials and dramas are in stages. These consist of ample imagination and framing of the storyline to make it attractive and demanding.

fiction

What is Literature?

Literature is a written comprehensive work or a collection of works that include both non-fiction and fiction stories.

Literature is more used as prose fiction, drama, or poetry.

It’s the authentic mode of communication and reflects royalty and classic nature. These are also recorded, preserved, and broadcast for knowledge and entertainment.

It includes autobiographies, letters, memoirs, and many more. ‘literature’ is derived from Latin, which means learning and writing grammar.

Besides, the medium is diverse, from singing verses to narrating stories written by artists. Masterpieces are still kept in museums that showcase a broad meaning of a particular topic.

Definition varied with time. In western parts of the world, it denoted all books and writings.

Also, it differs from place to place. We have African literature, Central Asian artform, South Asian art, and African theatre.

According to Merriam-Webster, the latest definition of literary is the writings with an excellent firm expression and express ideas of permanent or universal interest.

Many other popular websites define literature according to their terms. But some things never change. Like the class, the level, the understanding, and the motive.

Literature remains the dominant thing and one of the most liked art forms across the globe.

literature

Main Differences Between Fiction and Literature

  1. Fiction follows the imagination part more than being realistic, while literature encompasses real lives, autobiographies, and many more.
  2. Fiction is quite simpler while understanding, but literature is slightly tricky to understand or frame.
  3. Fiction stories aren’t considered classic and royal, while literature has been a symbol of royalty and is considered classic artwork.
  4. Fiction work takes less time, while literature takes more time since it is based on real life and needs to be portrayed well.
  5. Durjoy Dutta, Chetan Bhagat, and Ravindra Singh are some fictional writers, while William Shakespeare is one of the finest writers in history.
Difference Between Fiction and Literature
References
  1. https://search.proquest.com/openview/d5390ce15249b600/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=17903
  2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=cCqDAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=literature&ots=XCHIsHdY0D&sig=WuQDCEDfGzlnhEvQ9oQR_PMqECQ

Last Updated : 11 June, 2023

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23 thoughts on “Fiction vs Literature: Difference and Comparison”

  1. What an excellent article! The author did a fantastic job explaining the differences between fiction and literature, and the examples provided are very illustrative and helpful

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