Fiktion

Fiktion is a category of narrative works whose events, characters, and settings are invented by the author rather than presented as factual record. It includes novels, short stories, plays, and screenplays, as well as other forms of narrative media where storytelling is primary. In German-language usage, Fiktion contrasts with Non-Fiktion, or fact-based writing.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin fictio “a feigning,” via Old French fiction; the German form Fiktion has been in use since the modern period and designates the realm of the imagined.

Forms and genres: Fiktion spans realism, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and experimental or literary fiction. It can be stand-alone prose, drama, or narrative works in other media such as film and television.

Techniques and features: Fiktion employs invented worlds, characters, and plots. It may use various narrative voices, including first person and unreliable narrators. The appeal lies in verisimilitude, thematic exploration, and the ability to test ideas in imaginary contexts.

Purpose and impact: Beyond entertainment, fiction explores human experience, questions social norms, and reflects cultural memory. It can critique institutions, imagine alternative futures, and experiment with language and form.

Historical note: Fiction arose from ancient and medieval storytelling and became a dominant literary form in the modern era, particularly with the rise of the novel. With global media, Fiktion now includes digital and multimedia expressions.