The actions narrated in a realistic story could take place in the real world.
Before entering fully into the meaning of the term realistic story , it is very interesting to discover the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
-Story derives from Latin, exactly from "computus" which emanates, in turn, from the verb "computare", which is synonymous with "to tell."
-Realist, on the other hand, is a neologism coined by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. He created it from the sum of two components: the Latin adjective "real, realis", which is synonymous with "true", and the Greek suffix "-ism", which is used as a synonym for "doctrine" or "activity". ».
A fictional story that has a limited length is called a story . Realistic , for its part, is an adjective that can be used to describe that which conforms to reality (what really happens).
Characteristics of a realistic story
According to their characteristics, stories can receive different names. A realistic story is called one whose actions correspond to what could happen in the real world . The events of realistic stories, in this way, are plausible .
The events narrated in a realistic story can be explained according to the criteria of the reader's everyday reality. The same does not happen with fantastic stories , whose plot is based on elements far from reality and typical of fantasy.
The example of "The slaughterhouse"
"The Slaughterhouse" by Esteban Echeverría is an example of a realistic story. In the text, the Argentine writer narrates a scene that takes place with an animal in a slaughterhouse in Buenos Aires during the time of Juan Manuel de Rosas (19th century). The descriptions of the characters and the environment are precise and coincide with the historical time in which the story is set.
"Little Red Riding Hood" , on the other hand, is a fairy tale that cannot be classified as realistic. It features a talking wolf and an old woman who, after being swallowed by this animal , emerges from its bowels alive. These questions are very far from reality.
It is important to keep in mind that a realistic story is plausible, but not true.
Realistic and verisimilitude story
It is important to consider that a realistic account does not present true facts, but rather credible ones. The actions that Echeverría recounts in "The Slaughterhouse" did not happen in reality , but several of them could have taken place in Buenos Aires in the 19th century .
In addition to those indicated, these are other of the most relevant characteristics of the so-called realistic story:
-Stories come to reflect moments or moments of common life.
-The characters are not superheroes, they are normal individuals, who could be similar to any ordinary citizen.
-The language used to shape realistic stories is common.
-The narrator who appears in these stories is someone who does not make value judgments and who does not analyze the situation. In his case, he simply dedicates himself to telling in detail and meticulously what happens.
Among the most important authors of literature who have been considered and are considered references within the so-called realistic story, we can highlight figures such as Gustave Flaubert (1821 - 1880), Stendhal (1783 - 1842) or Emile Zola (1840 - 1902), among others.