Finding the Common Ground: A Critique of the Division Between Genre Fiction and Literacy Fiction

Details

Title: Finding the Common Ground: A Critique of the Division Between Genre Fiction and Literacy Fiction
Creator
Subject
Description: The concepts of genre and literary fiction have been present in literature for many years, yet the nature of this division continues to be debated. Genre fiction is plot driven, entertainment-oriented, and without emphasis on the human condition, while also being written with the intent of fitting into one or more categories known as genres. Conversely, literary fiction intends to portray grounded, character-driven narratives that showcase the human condition and contain artistic merit—to many, it is considered the superior of the two. However, many believe that this division is unnecessary. This paper breaks down the barrier between the two types of fiction by analyzing one series of works considered genre fiction (JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series) and two works considered literary fiction (George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein). These three analyses demonstrate how each work contains characteristics of both genre and literary fiction, despite their typical placements, proves that fictional works cannot be accurately divided into two types, as well as that no one variety of fiction is inherently superior to the other. To replace the binary division, this paper suggests a genre fiction and literary fiction spectrum, upon which works can be placed depending on the genre and literary characteristics their narratives contain., Honors Thesis Advisor: Dr. Brent House.
Publisher
Contributor: Blattenberger, Joshua (Author), California University of Pennsylvania. Honors Program., (Author)
Date: 2019-04-24
Type: Text
Format
Identifier: cali:2219
Source
Language
Relation
Coverage
Rights