2 Literary Genres: Graphic and Flash Fiction | 21st Century Literature | Quarter 2 Module 7

Summary

This lesson covers 21st-century literary genres, focusing on flash fiction and graphic fiction. Flash fiction is defined by its brevity, complete plot, and surprising endings, while graphic fiction uses comic book-style narratives with sequential images and speech bubbles to tell stories. The lesson includes examples of both genres, such as *In the Shadow of No Tower* and *Angels and Blueberries*. Students are encouraged to compare and contrast these genres, identifying similarities and differences, and create their own 3-panel comic based on a short story. The lesson emphasizes interactivity and creativity in modern literature.

Takeaways

• 😀 Flash fiction and graphic fiction are two modern literary genres gaining popularity due to the advent of digital technologies and platforms.
• 😀 Graphic fiction, also known as graphic novels, combines sequential images and text to tell a story, with dialogue in speech bubbles and visual panels.
• 😀 A key characteristic of graphic fiction is the use of autographic forms, such as the author’s handwriting, which adds a personal and intimate feel to the story.
• 😀 Graphic novels encourage interactivity by allowing readers to mentally fill in the blanks between image panels, creating a more immersive experience.
• 😀 The meaning in graphic fiction is conveyed more through images than words, with a strong relationship between the two.
• 😀 Flash fiction is an extremely short narrative, typically ranging from a word to around a thousand words, but always with a complete plot and a twist ending.
• 😀 A hallmark of flash fiction is its brevity, which challenges writers to tell a story as concisely as possible while still maintaining a full narrative arc.
• 😀 Flash fiction often has a surprising or unexpected ending, which provides a punch or twist that is crucial to its impact.
• 😀 The module includes examples of both genres, such as Art Spiegelman’s *In the Shadow of No Tower 911* (graphic fiction) and Tara Campbell’s *Angels and Blueberries* (flash fiction).
• 😀 Students are tasked with completing activities that compare and contrast the two genres, including identifying their characteristics, differences, and similarities, and creating a three-panel comic based on a 30-word story.

Q & A

What is the definition of graphic fiction or graphic novels?

Graphic fiction, or graphic novels, is a comic book narrative that is equivalent in form and dimension to a prose novel. It uses sequenced images and speech bubbles to tell the story, allowing readers to imagine and experience the characters and events.

What are the main features of graphic fiction or graphic novels?

Key features of graphic fiction include autographic forms (author’s handwriting), interactivity (where readers mentally fill in the gaps between images), the relationship between images and words for meaning, and a combination of book and screen elements.

What are some examples of graphic fiction provided in the lesson?

Examples of graphic fiction include 'In the Shadow of No Tower' by Art Spiegelman, 'The Barn Owl's Wondrous Capers' by Sarnath Banerjee, and 'Louis Riel' by Chester Brown.

How does a graphic novel encourage reader interaction?

Graphic novels encourage reader interaction by having images and dialogue arranged in panels, where the reader mentally fills in the gaps between images, enhancing engagement with the story.

What are the common characteristics of flash fiction?

Flash fiction is characterized by brevity (extreme shortness), a complete plot (with a clear beginning, middle, and end), and a surprising or twist ending.

What is the significance of brevity in flash fiction?

Brevity in flash fiction means telling a complete story using as few words as possible, making it a compact and concise form of storytelling.

Can you give examples of flash fiction mentioned in the lesson?

Examples of flash fiction include 'Angels and Blueberries' by Tara Campbell, 'Taylor Swift' by Yu Bam Steinberg, and 'Unnecessary Things' by Tatiana Tolstaya.

What role does a surprising ending play in flash fiction?

A surprising ending is a hallmark of flash fiction, providing a twist or unexpected conclusion that leaves a lasting impact on the reader despite the short length of the story.

How do graphic fiction and flash fiction differ in terms of storytelling techniques?

Graphic fiction relies heavily on visuals and sequential images to tell a story, whereas flash fiction uses brevity and few words to convey a complete narrative, often focusing on surprise or impact at the end.

What activities should students complete as part of this lesson?

Students are required to complete several activities: reading and answering processing questions for 'My Freaking Alarm,' finding similarities and differences between graphic fiction and flash fiction, and creating a 3-panel comic based on a 30-word story from the module.