* Fiction: Imaginary stories, created by the author. They may be inspired by real events or people, but the events themselves are made up. The goal of fiction is often to entertain, explore themes, or evoke emotions.
* Non-fiction: Accounts of real events, people, and situations. It aims to inform, educate, or persuade the reader based on factual information.
Here's a table summarizing the key distinctions:
| Feature | Fiction | Non-Fiction |
|---|---|---|
| Truth Value | Imaginary, made-up | Factual, based on reality |
| Purpose | To entertain, explore themes, evoke emotions | To inform, educate, or persuade |
| Characters | Imaginary, created by the author | Real people or fictionalized versions of real people |
| Plot | Made-up story, often with a narrative structure | Accounts of real events, often with a chronological structure |
| Setting | Imaginary or based on real locations | Real locations |
| Examples | Novels, short stories, poems, plays | Biographies, documentaries, news articles, historical accounts |
Some examples of fiction and non-fiction:
* Fiction: Harry Potter series, The Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice, The Hunger Games
* Non-fiction: The Autobiography of Malcolm X, The History of the United States, The New York Times, a scientific paper on climate change
It's important to note that there can be some overlap between fiction and non-fiction. For example, a historical novel may be based on real events but also incorporate fictional characters and storylines. Similarly, a documentary may use creative techniques like dramatic reenactments to tell a story.
Ultimately, the difference between fiction and non-fiction comes down to the primary intention of the author: to create an imaginary world or to present factual information.