Here's a breakdown:
* Fabula: This is the raw material of a story, the actual sequence of events as they happened in the narrative. It's like the skeleton of the story, stripped of any stylistic embellishments or narrative tricks.
* Syuzhet: This is the plot, which is the way the story is presented to the reader or viewer. It's how the author manipulates the fabula, using techniques like flashbacks, foreshadowing, and non-linear storytelling.
Think of it this way:
* Fabula: You go to the store, buy groceries, come home, and cook dinner.
* Syuzhet: You start the story with you cooking dinner, then flash back to your trip to the store, and finally return to the present moment with you enjoying your meal.
The distinction between fabula and syuzhet is important because it allows us to analyze how authors use narrative techniques to create different effects on the reader.
Here are some other meanings of "fabula":
* Story: In a more general sense, "fabula" can simply mean "story" or "tale."
* Legend: It can also refer to a legend or myth.
* Fable: "Fabula" is the root of the English word "fable."
So, depending on the context, "fabula" can have different meanings. But in literary theory, it's most commonly used to refer to the chronological sequence of events in a story.