Preview

In Cold Blood

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
653 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
In Cold Blood
In Capote's novel, In Cold Blood, he strived to create a non-fiction setting that would leave readers unable to set the book down. Some readers seem hesitant to label this peice of literature as non-fiction because of Capote's choice to contruct it with literary devices that are often found in fiction novels. Those who have read In Cold Blood began to question and challenge Capote's credibility as a writer. They felt that he should reconstruct the brutal murders of the Clutter family while remaining as close to the true story as he possibly could. Even though Capote used devices of fiction writing, it does not take away his crediblity but simply proves that he can write a non-fiction novel using a number of diffrent writing techniques from other genres. A parcicular question continues to be presented within the literature world: Does labeling any novel "non-fiction" make sense? The inquiry caused great controversy and numerous people have spoken out on this subject expressing their varied opinions. Some believe that it is very much possible for the genre "non-fiction" exist, as long as the writing does not stray too far from facts. On the other hand, there are many others who belive that the non-fiction genre should have never existed. Those those who have this opinion believe that novels are only suppose to tell fictional stories, not realizing that anyone could take an event that actually happend and turn it into a story by using facts. The novel is flooded with fictional writing techniques meant to flare the reader's interest and keep them mezmerized throughout the entire book. Although this could jepordize the facts written within peice of writing by blending it with fabrication, it also makes the piece of literature more pleasurable to read. In one's opinion, Capote's use of fiction aids the non-fictional events of the novel because it adds a twist and makes the non-fictional events seem more adventurous. There are examples of Capote's fictional

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    According to her he did a great job factually reporting the amount needed in journalism while still remaining creative while telling the story (Melany 1). She said her mind was blown after finding out the book took six years for him to research and write (Melany 1). He created a well researched story while managing to be entertaining (Melany 1). According to another journalist named Garson his novel gives the readers facts “in a straightforward newspaper fashion, but remains giving an artistic view to details” (Melany 2). Newspaper journalist Connery describes his non fiction style as “a report that reads like fiction”. (Melany 2). In Capote’s work he uses four common narrative techniques that makes his novel a nonfiction story. He uses detailed scene construction, complete dialogue from interviews instead of subjective quotes, his point of view variation, and his execution of details about the characters in the text (Melany 2). It was impossible for Capote to include all of the facts from all of his research. The way Capote chooses the facts he wants to include and the ones he decides to leave out can be thought of as crafting the truth (Melany…

    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The novel takes place in Holcomb, Kansas, a small farming town with a tight knit community. The Clutters are a prominent and cherished family known throughout the town. Herb is a successful farmer, married for 25 years to Bonnie Fox and is the father of four children. At home, two of his children remain; 16 year old Nancy and 15 year old Kenyon. Discovered by two young girls the next morning, the community is struck by the horrific murders of the Clutters on the night of November 15th, 1959, an event too gruesome for anyone to believe. Meanwhile, nearly 400 miles away in Olathe, Kansas, the two killers; ex-convicts; Dick (28) and Perry (31), proceed with a normal evening as if nothing had occurred the night before.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    although he uses devices of fiction writing. Capote felt that he was one of the few creative people who actually took journalism seriously, but this brought up questions of whether a book such as In Cold Blood is actually a novel, a creative work, or journalism. Based on my view, I believe that the way he wrote the book with the fiction devices does not interfere with the journalistic credibility of the account.…

    • 107 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Cold Blood Book Report

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote tells the story of when the poor Clutter family was slaughtered in Holcomb, Kansas in 1959. In Cold Blood took six years for Capote to investigate and write, and it put an incredible amount of pressure on Truman, so much so that he never published another book again. Even though in cold Blood doesn’t have a great ending, the book was worth reading because of the intriguing plot, dark tone, and the interesting characters.…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What's written in a novel and what happened in real life can have lasting effects on the overall story. They shape the way a reader thinks about an event or person; In Cold Blood is a excellent example of this. In the book, there were many differences found, some by family members or loved ones, others were found when comparing the book to legal documents. In the journal written by, Van Jensen, titled, "Writing History: Capote’s Novel Has Lasting Effect on Journalism" Jensen gives the example that, "Critics found discrepancies between "In Cold Blood" and official documents, such as the transcript of the murder trial." Jensen is saying that when reading the book critics had found differences between what had actually happened in real life and…

    • 230 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Perry Smith's Criticism

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages

    However, since this novel was non-fiction, written in journalistic/reportage fashion, it is expected there being an essence of objectivity. From Capote sympathizing with Perry, this bridges the element of bias into his linguistic choice, therefore diminishing the notions of objectivity within this non-fiction novel.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Capote Analysis

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Capote’s audience would probably range from people interested in mystery novels to people wanting to understand capital…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Cold Blood

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As people grow older they base their success on becoming rich or famous; their main motive in life is to live the American Dream. The environment that people grow up in, may determine for one how they achieve this dream. Most individuals who grow up in a well mannered home develop become very success and other may acheive what they want through a life of crime. In Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood, the role of Richard “Dick” Hickock as an iconic character provides In Cold Blood with a more dramatic and artificial story line, that supports the overall theme of living the “American Dream.”…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Cold Blood Essay

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Smith were found guilty of murder in the first degree and their punishment is death. "Can there be a single doubt in your minds regarding the guilt in your defendants? No! Regardless of who pulled the trigger on Richard Eugene Hickock's shotgun, both men are equally guilty... penalty-death." (303)…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The non-fiction novel 'In Cold Blood' reconstructs the murder of a Kansas family in 1959,murderers Perry Smith and Richard Hitchcock soon become the center of Capote's novel,which pioneered the new journalism movement.The Gothic novel 'Frankenstein' is the disturbing story of an unnatural creation which was highly controversial when published,in 1818.The creature represents the consequences of meddling with God's creations.Because of the scientific advancements at the time,Frankenstein would have been viewed as a frightening tale.…

    • 1313 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    cold blood

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages

    · “This hitherto peaceful congregation of neighbors and old friends had suddenly to endure the unique experience of distrusting each other; understandably, they believed that the murderer was among themselves”(88).…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Blurring the boundaries between Fiction and Non-Fiction has always been a great way for authors to make their points, yield their arguments, and to keep interest. Some may even be inclined to believe that there is not a definite boundary between the areas of fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is often used throughout non-fiction writings as more of a point of view than a character in itself. This voice is not exactly a character in the text, but it still exercises an attitude toward the material to help control the writing.…

    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Fiction vs nonfiction

    • 278 Words
    • 1 Page

    Fiction and non-fiction works have differences and similarities as different kinds of literature. They can best be compared and contrasted in many ways. We can discuss them for their meaning, differences, similarities and examples…

    • 278 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Non-fiction

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Non-fiction is one of the two main divisions in writing, the other form being fiction. Non-fiction is a story based on real facts and information . Non-fiction is a narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are believed by the author to be factual. These assertions and descriptions may or may not be accurate, and can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question, however, it is generally assumed that authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition or, at least, pose them to their audience as historically or empirically true. Reporting the beliefs of others in a non-fiction format is not necessarily an endorsement of the ultimate veracity of those beliefs, it is simply saying it is true that people believe them (for such topics as mythology, religion). Non-fiction can also be written about fiction, giving information about these other works. Non-fiction need not necessarily be written text, since pictures and film can also purport to present a factual account of a subject. Essays, journals, memoir, diaries, documentaries, scientific papers, photographs, biographies, textbooks, travel books, blueprints, technical documentation, user manuals, diagrams and some journalism are all common examples of non-fiction works, and including information that the author knows to be untrue within any of these works is usually regarded as dishonest. Other works can legitimately be either fiction or non-fiction, such as journals of self-expression, letters, magazine articles, and other expressions of imagination. Though they are mostly either one or the other, it is possible for there to be a blend of both. Some fiction may include non-fictional elements. Some non-fiction may include elements of unverified supposition, deduction, or imagination for the purpose of smoothing out a narrative, but the inclusion of open falsehoods would discredit it as a work of non-fiction. The publishing and…

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    One definition is that literature is imaginative writing, based on its fictionality and do not engage in the literal truth. However, Eagleton rejects this theory, since the literature also includes nonfiction genres such as essay and autobiography. Distinguishing between fiction and fact, or truth and fantasy is considered too controversial to us led to a satisfactory demarcation.…

    • 3629 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics