Escape and Interpretive Literature

Consider this question: why read fiction when there are so many other things to do? There
are theoretically two answers to this question: for entertainment⁠— that is, for pleasure— and
for understanding the world around us. Unlike watching YouTube or a television series, reading
tends to remain in your conscious mind to a much greater extent. If you read it, there is a
greater level of retention; and if you write about it afterwards, there is an even greater level of
retention. Many authorities suggest this comes from centuries of human oral story-telling that is
passed down from generation to generation.

2 Categories of Fiction:
Note that although these are distinct categories, it exists on a spectrum. Like any
generalization, all literature doesn’t neatly fit into one category.

Escape Literature Interpretive Literature

● Written purely for entertainment in ● Written to broaden, deepen, and

order to help us pass time
● Takes us away from the real world to
help us forget about our troubles
● Limited development of stock
characters. The good guy or girl
always dresses in white.
● Simple story-line with perhaps a few
surprise twists
sharpen our awareness of life
● Takes us deeper into the real world,
enabling us to better understand our
troubles
● Through understanding, we can begin
to work towards solutions
● Teaches us that we are not the only
ones in the world with problems that
need solving
● Usually extensive development of the
characters in the story
● Can have a complex plot, climax, and
conclusion

Like with how there are categories for literature, it would follow that there would be categories
for writers as well:

Escape Writer: Full of tricks and surprises as they pull a rabbit out of the hat, saves the
day with a flick of their finger and snatches balls out of mid air.

Interpretive Writer: Takes you behind the scenes showing the props and mirrors in
order to clarify the illusions. Also gives shape and form to the material with the intent
that we may see, feel, and understand to a higher level.
Escape and Interpretive Literature
2 Types of Readers:
While there are two kinds of fiction and writer, there are also generally two kinds of readers:
The Immature or Inexperienced Reader
● This reader seeks only escape
● Doesn’t mind a moral or interpretation
as long as it returns them to their
pleasant or exciting image of the
world and a flatter image of
themselves (the Hero)
● Any fiction which does not do this is
dismissed as “boring”
● Seems stuck at the fairy-tale stage
● Makes fixed demands of every story
they read and are disappointed or
frustrated unless these demands are
met
● Usually sticks to one type of story,
romance, crime, fantasy, or sports
● If they try other types of stories, the
story must conform to a set of criteria
or it will be quickly set aside. The
criteria are as follows:
○ A sympathetic hero or heroine
who the reader can imagine
themselves as, sharing in their
adventure, difficulties, and
triumphs
○ Plot in which something
exciting is always happening
and has a high level of
suspense
○ Happy outcome that leaves
the reader undisturbed and
optimistic
The Experienced or Discriminating Reader
● Takes deeper pleasure in fiction that
deals with life rather than the formula
of escape
● Does not reject escape literature
immediately because it is not always
cheap or trite
● Knows that too much escape may:
○ Leave us with superficial
attitudes towards life
○ May actually distort our view
of reality, giving us false
concepts and expectations
● Critical reader; thinks about what they
are reading
● Have an opinion about what they
have read and why they did or did not
like it
● Can discuss the story’s strengths and
weaknesses even though their
personal response to the story may
not have been positive
● Depth of the reader’s literary
experience affects their response to
allusions, structure, form, technique,
and style
● Willing to experience growth in their
understanding and judgement of
what they read
Escape and Interpretive Literature

○ Themes must conform to

already held opinions of the
world

Emotion and Humor

Emotion and humour is important for a story to have because readers want to be emotionally
touched and moved by the story. A good story should be able to connect to its readers on an
emotional level and use that to draw them in. In essence, the reader should be able to identify in
some way to the character so that they can put themselves in the character’s shoes. It is this
emotional connection to the character that drives readers to continue reading⁠ — because we
care about what happens to the characters. At the same time, emotion and humour are what
differentiates imaginative literature from other forms of literature.

Emotion: A strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances or mood.

Humour: The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech.

Genres that often embody these forms of writing:

● Humour/Comedy
● Horror
● Sentimental