LITERATURE-FINALS-REVIEWER

LITERATURE
CREATIVE NONFICTION
- nonfiction prose but utilizes the techniques
& strategies of fiction
- creative doesn’t mean fabricating or
manipulating; used only to make more
interesting accounts
- expected to write compelling stories about
life
Poles of Creative Nonfiction
• Literary Journalism
- new journalism
- writing in a personal way about
the facts in a news events
- still close to traditional reportage
• Literary Memoir
- works of nonfiction that can be
coherent & crafted works of
literature
- deals with a slice of life
- told in a factual but creative
way
In between the two poles:
1. Magazine Feature Article
- tenses are in present
- adjectives = encouraged
2. Newspaper Column
- straight to the point
- commentary on a particular
subject
- things that are going on in a
particular place
3. Interview Story
- about personalities/famous
people
4. Character Sketch/Profile
- personalities in a story
5. Personal Essay
- opinion & experiences
6. Autobiographical Sketch
- entire life of a person
GENRES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION
1. Essay/Article
- essay = literary
- article = feature magazine/journalistic
aspect
2. Profile
- in-depth article/essay about a person,
object or place
3. Literary Journalism
- writing in a personal way about facts in
a news event
4. Personal Narratives
a) Autobiographical
- about your entire life
b) Biographical
- someone else’s entire life
ELEMENTS OF CREATIVE NONFICTION
1. APPROACH
- how the story is written
- techniques, intention
- theoretical background
2. POINT OF VIEW
- most prominent/omnipresent = “I”
3. TONE
- attitude of the writer towards a subject
4. VOICE
- personal style/signature style of the
author
- consistency & use of language
5. STRUCTURE
- how the story is presented to the reader
a) Linear/Conventional
- beginning, middle, end
b) Nonlinear/Nonconventional
- flashbacks, flashforwards, etc.
6. STRONG BEGINNING & CONVINCING
END
- beginning = motivate
- end = teach/promote
- everything must be joined/earned
7. RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES
- makes you ponder in life
- answers = do not come on normal
discourse
8. CHARACTER
- flat, round, dynamic, etc.
- people, animal, objects within the story
9. CONCRETE & EVCATIVE DETAILS
- details = significant, vivid, & imagistic
- synesthesia = incorporate all senses
- bring the reader where you want them
to be
- image > adjective