Earl J. Wilcox

David L. Rankin

Fundamentals of Fiction is intended to give both the general reader and the beginning student of literature a comprehensive, though basic, approach to understanding fiction. It provides detailed explanations of primary elements of fictionópoint of view, description, narration, character, plot, language, meaning, and theme, and examines some of the more subtle and elusive components of fiction, including metaphor, imagery, symbolism, subject, tone, and mood. Five short works of fictionó"Odour of Chrysanthemums," by D.H. Lawrence, "The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck, "The Destructors," by Graham Greene, "Patricia, Edith, and Arnold," by Dylan Thomas, and "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets," by Stephen Craneóare used to integrate and support the discussions of fictional elements. Created to enhance almost any anthology of fiction, the text includes exercises for class discussion and writing exercises, and an appendix listing both the fundamentals of fiction in fifty popular short stories and exercises for use with them. Reprinted from the 1975 Allyn and Bacon edition.

David L. Rankin

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