what is the essence of realism in literary fiction
Fiction Literary fiction often involves social commentary, political criticism, or reflection on the human condition.[17] In general it focuses on "introspective, in-depth character studies" of "interesting, complex and developed" characters.[17][18] This contrasts with genre fiction where plot is the central concern.[19] Usually in literary fiction the focus is on the "inner story" of the characters who drive the plot, with detailed motivations to elicit "emotional involvement" in the reader.[20][21] The style of literary fiction is often described as "elegantly written, lyrical, and ... layered".[22] The tone of literary fiction can be darker than genre fiction,[23] while the pacing of literary fiction may be slower than popular fiction.[23] As Terrence Rafferty notes, "literary fiction, by its nature, allows itself to dawdle, to linger on stray beauties even at the risk of losing its way".[24]