Abstract:     Fiction is one of the fundamental abilities that distinguish humans from animals. So far, most discussions of the nature of fiction have been confined to realism, institutional theory and communication theory as well as their complicated relations. Realism is to find out the real attributes in fictional objects or fictional narrative that distinguish them from real objects or factual narrative. These attributes are regarded as the nature of fiction. Institutional theory, on the other hand, attributes the nature of fiction to socio-cultural conventions. Based on the communication theory, the Double Framing Principle is of landmark significance in solving the nature problem since it reveals the nature of fiction and the composition of the fictional world in a thorough manner. The debate it has brought about is essentially the conflict between realism and institutional theory triggered under the perspective of communication theory. Therefore, how to deal with the internal logic among realism, institutional theory and communication theory and realize the integration of the three is an effective way to advance the discussion of the nature of fiction.

Key words: the nature of fiction, realism, institutional theory, communication theory, the Double Framing Principle