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Interpreting Fiction


            Interpretation of a fictitious story depends upon the reader. Fiction can be subjective and evocative. It is "made up," and indirect in its communication. A work of fiction may evoke the emotions of the reader with the thrill of imagining impossible or unavailable experiences or the intrigue with playing out "what if" or" if only" scenarios, or simply observations on the human condition.
             We read fiction not to gain new information so much as to experience the ideas and feelings a story inspires within us. Readers have different expectations from fiction and. Emotional involvement is a major issue with fiction. We expect a story to grab us, and even convince us. We will suspend belief when reading a romance novel or science fiction, but demand reason and evidence from that same piece. .
             For passing time or sheer enjoyment, of course, simply reading the story can be satisfaction and reward enough. We do not have to analyze everything we read. The point is to be able to interpret when we want to or have to. Fiction can be subjected to analysis and interpretation. We analyze fictional works for recurring themes that reflect on the broader human experience beyond simply following the story. .
             Fiction is, by definition, subjective. A novel, story, drama, or poem is the expression of an author's imagination. The characters and situations are "made up." Readers expect fiction to reflect the real world; they do not expect it to portray the real world. And yet fiction can seem very real without being factual. Fiction can be true, however, only in the sense that the actions or behaviors "ring true" with what we know of the world. Events depicted in movies such as Schindler's List, Amistad, or Titanic can appear just as they might have in real life. The sentiment may be real, but the characters and incidents are the fruits of the author's imagination. And author and directors "as in the movies referred to above "often use "dramatic license" to distort history for dramatic effect.


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