Fiction vs. Drama — What's the Difference?

Fiction is any creative work (chiefly, any narrative work) consisting of people, events, or places that are imaginary—in other words, not based strictly on history or fact. In its most narrow usage, fiction refers to written narratives in prose and often specifically novels, though also novellas and short stories.

Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television. Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been contrasted with the epic and the lyrical modes ever since Aristotle's Poetics (c.

Literature in the form of prose, especially novels, that describes imaginary events and people.

A play for theatre, radio, or television

Something that is invented or untrue

An exciting, emotional, or unexpected event or circumstance

The category of literature, drama, film, or other creative work whose content is imagined and is not necessarily based on fact.

A prose or verse composition, especially one telling a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action.

Works in this category

A serious narrative work or program for television, radio, or the cinema.

A work within this category

Theatrical plays of a particular kind or period

Narrative, explanatory material, or belief that is not true or has been imagined or fabricated

The art or practice of writing or producing dramatic works.

A narrative, explanation, or belief that may seem true but is false or fabricated

A situation or succession of events in real life having the dramatic progression or emotional effect characteristic of a play

(Law) A verbal contrivance that is in some sense inaccurate but that accomplishes a purpose, as in the treatment of husband and wife as one person or a corporation as an entity.

The quality or condition of being dramatic

(literature) Literary type using invented or imaginative writing, instead of real facts, usually written as prose.

A composition, normally in prose, telling a story and intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue

A verbal or written account that is not based on actual events (often intended to mislead).

Such a work for television, radio or the cinema (usually one that is not a comedy)

(legal) A legal fiction.

Theatrical plays in general

The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining; as, by a mere fiction of the mind.

A situation in real life that has the characteristics of such a theatrical play

That which is feigned, invented, or imagined; especially, a feigned or invented story, whether oral or written. Hence: A story told in order to deceive; a fabrication; - opposed to fact, or reality.

(slang) Rumor, lying or exaggerated reaction to life or online events; melodrama; an angry dispute or scene; a situation made more complicated or worse than it should be; intrigue or spiteful interpersonal maneuvering.

Fictitious literature; comprehensively, all works of imagination; specifically, novels and romances.

A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by actors on the stage.

An assumption of a possible thing as a fact, irrespective of the question of its truth.

A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest.

Any like assumption made for convenience, as for passing more rapidly over what is not disputed, and arriving at points really at issue.

Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature.

A literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

A dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage;

A deliberately false or improbable account

An episode that is turbulent or highly emotional

The literary genre of works intended for the theater

The quality of being arresting or highly emotional