Drama vs. Fiction

There are many different structures in which writers decide to articulate their literary works. The three most common forms are fictional, dramatic and poetic literature. Dramatic literature can be defined as “a work to be performed by actors on stage, radio, or television” (Dramatic Literature). Fictional literature is most commonly defined as a “literary work invented by the imagination” (Fiction). Yet, both genres are comprised of their own limitations and downfalls. Although, a fictional work can explore the depths of a reader’s imagination, a work of dramatic literature allows the words and characters to come alive before the reader’s eyes. Since dramatic literature is intended to be preformed it is set back by economical support and time constraints, causing some writers to articulate their plot in a more condensed timeframe. Whilst a work of fictional literature can be hundreds of pages long in order to properly communicate the writer’s vision. The use of human senses, the capability to leap from assorted scenes, and the voice used to articulate the plot also, assist in separating the different avenues that divide a work into dramatic or fictional literature.

In a dramatic piece of literature, the viewer lacks the ability to cohesively jump from scene to scene. Since, a work of dramatic literature is usually intended to be performed on a stage, the detail that is expressed in describing the initial scenery of a play is essential because it insures that the writer’s vision is correctly being displayed. In Henrik Ibsen’s literary work, A Dollhouse, the scenery is described in the beginning of each act. “A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. At the back, a door to the right leads to the entranc...

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...enery is better utilized in fictional works because it does not require construction of them on a set. Yet, even with the best description a writer can provide their readers, it does not compare to the actual sounds, smells, or observations that a reader is able to experience in a dramatic work. Although, all of these different items divide these two works into two different genres, they still are comprised of the same ideology.

Works Cited

Dramatic Literature. 26 03 2011 .

Fiction. 26 03 2011 .

Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll House." Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Upper Saddle River: Pearson College Div, 2011. 1191-1237.

Poe, Edgar. "The Masque of the Red Death." Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Upper Saddle River: Pearson College Div, 2011. 234-237.