ANALYZING FICTION: AN INTRODUCTORY GUIDE FOR READERS OF ENGLISH FICTION

This book provides a clear and accessible introduction to the

fascinating and often complex topie of how to analyze fiction. It shows

how to read a short story or a novel and write about it critically. The book,

the produet of many years of experience in reading and teaching English

and American literature at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels,

offers fundamental guidelines for reading and analyzing short stories and

This book could not have been completed without the help and

support of several people. I would like to express my gratitude to the

teachers who taught me and made me who I am today. My thanks also go

to my family, friends, and colleagues, for their generous practical and

moral support.

I would also like to thank Robert Widders, a writer, colleague, and

friend, for his careful reading and editing of my drafts. My warmest

attitude also goes to Rob Bell, a lecturer, librarian, and friend, and Ruth

Stotter, a Fulbright scholar and storytelling specialist, for their thoughtful

comments and suggestions.

I hope very much that students of literature will find this book

useful and that they will be inspired to love reading and analyzing fiction

as much as I do.

Asst. Prof. Surasak Khamkhong, Ph.D

..................................................................................

Chapter 1

Overview

What is literature?

Why do we read literature?

Major Literary Genres

Chapter 2

Fiction and Types of Fiction

Overview

What is fiction?

Types of Fiction

Older Forms of Fiction

Modern Forms of Fiction

Categorization of Modern Fiction

Chapter 3

Fictional Analysis

Overview

Literary Communication Triangle

The Reading Process

The Processes of Fictional Analysis

The Analysis of the Fictional Texts

The Literary Criticism of Fiction

Chapter 4

Elements of Fiction

Overview

Elements of Fiction

Chapter 5

Literary Criticism

Overview

Literary Criticism and Literary Theory

Types of Literary Criticism

Author-oriented Criticism

Text-oriented Criticism

Criticism

Reader-oriented

Context-oriented

Criticism

Short Story

Chapter 6

The Analysis of the

Overview

Definition and Characteristics of the Short Story

An Example of a Short Story Analysis

The Elements of Fiction of "Beware of the Dog"

The Literary Criticism of "Beware of the Dog"

Conclusion

Chapter 7

The Analysis of the Novel

Overview

Definition and Characteristics of the Novel

An Example of a Novel Analysis

Chapter 8

How to Write a Response Essay

Overview

What is a response essay?

Components of a Response Essay

The Process of Writing a Response Essay

Useful Expressions for Essay writing

Citations and References

An Example of Essays on Heart of Darkness