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Literature Glossary

Don’t be an oxymoron. Know your literary terms.

Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.

Popular Fiction

Definition:

A synonym for bestseller, popular fiction refers to books that are, well, um, popular with the masses. Popular fiction, as opposed to literary fiction, is typically written for a commercial audience, and it's often written with a specific genre in mind. Steig Larsson's Girl with a Dragon Tattoo is an example of a popular fiction mystery. Check out Shmoop's Bestsellers section for a dose of popular fiction. You know you want to.