Written by: Angelia GreinerAdditional Material by: Kelley McConathy

Birth of the NovelBirth of the Novel

Rise of Literacy&Lending libraries

Rise of Literacy&Lending libraries

New market forthe novel by 1700s!

New market forthe novel by 1700s!

DEFINITION…DEFINITION…

A lengthy fictional narrative, written in prose, presenting a realistic picture of believable characters and events

The Novel as a Literary GenreThe Novel as a Literary Genre

1.Contemporariness became a common theme within the novels, writers were more inclined to show the life of the present day versus life as it was in the past.

2.Characters and events were made to be believable, as if to mirror the people and events in the every day world of the time, lending the novels credibility.

The Novel as a Literary GenreThe Novel as a Literary Genre

3.Writers also began to reject traditional plot types. Instead, writers paid greater attention to self-consciousness and the process of thought.

4.Stories reflected more of their individualism and subjectivity.

The novel created "a true world, familiar and recognizable to shoemakers and philosophers alike"

Early Beginnings–1700sEarly Beginnings–1700s

• “The proper study of mankind is man.” —Alexander Pope

• Samuel Richardson

• Henry Fielding

PopePope

RichardsonRichardson

Daniel Defoe was credited for being the author of the first English novel .The first novel is usually credited to be Defoe's Robinson Crusoe which was first published in 1719.

Next, there was the publication in 1740 of Samuel Richardson's Pamela (Lee). Followed by a multitude of other books that would be termed "novels" such as Henry Fielding's Joseph Andrews. After these first novelists became successful, a flux of other authors would quickly evolve in the years to come. Authors like Charles Dickens and Jane Austen's to name a few, would soon become some of the world's most famous novelists having perfected the art of the novel.

Defoe

Basic Elements of the NovelBasic Elements of the Novel

• Plot

• Character

• Setting

• Point of View

• Theme

PlotPlot

• The plot is what happens in the story.

exposition

dénouement

climax

Conflict in the Early NovelsConflict in the Early Novels

• Person versus society

• Person versus self

• Person versus person

Person v. Society Person v. Society

• Character trapped by circumstances of birth

• Character falsely accused by society

• Character feels apart from society and discovers own values

Person v. SocietyPerson v. Society

• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

• Separated from the cosmopolitan world

• Rebels

• “He hoped I would study law, but all I wanted was to go to sea.”

Person v. SocietyPerson v. Society• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel

Hawthorne

• Individual’s triumph over cultural expectations of society

• Hester Prynne

“Lastly, in lieu of these shifting scenes, came back the rude market-place of the Puritan settlement, with all the townspeople assembled and leveling their stern regards at Hester Prynne,—yes, at herself,—who stood on the scaffold of the pillory, an infant on her arm, and the letter A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom!”

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Person v. Self Person v. Self

• Character finds inner strength despite poor odds

• Character must develop moral compass

• Character must discover self-worth

DefoeDefoe DickensDickens HawthorneHawthorne

Person v. PersonPerson v. Person

• One character must battle another character to gain power, true love, freedom, justice or acceptance

• One group of characters must free themselves from another

• One character must confront another to survive

CharacterCharacter

• Character: person in a literary work

• Main character: the protagonist

• Character in direct conflict with the

protagonist: the antagonist

Point of ViewPoint of View

• Author’s choice of narrator for a story

• A story can be told in many different ways

First Person Point of ViewFirst Person Point of View

• Narrator is character in story

Second PersonSecond Person

• Refers to the use of “you” in writings

Second Person ExamplesSecond Person Examples

Narration: “He hasn’t disappointed her yet. You have. She looks at you through a veneer of resignation. Her eyes glow, her lower lip barely trembling. And well she might fear you.”

from The Bride Wore Red by Robbie Sethi

Third Person Point of ViewThird Person Point of View

• Narrator is not a character in the story

• Third person point of view written in variety of ways

• Third Person (Limited)

• Third Person (Multiple Viewpoints)

• Third Person (Omniscient)

From what viewpoint is the narrator speaking?From what viewpoint is the narrator speaking?

“She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom!”

from The Scarlet Letter

"Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug!"

from A Christmas Carol

"Man," I cried, "how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!"

Victor Frankenstein,from Frankenstein

“The agony of my feelings allowed me no respite; no incident occurred from which my rage and misery could not extract its food ...”

The monster, from Frankenstein

SettingSetting

• Where and when a story takes place

• Time of day or year

• Geographical location

• Climate or weather

• Immediate surroundings of character

Purpose of SettingPurpose of Setting

• Become the antagonist

• Create atmosphere

• Tell about a character

• Reinforce an overall idea

• Puritan New England in The Scarlet Letter

• The Mississippi River in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• The Atlantic Oceanin Moby Dick

• A deserted island in Lord of the Flies

• 1920s Jazz Age in The Great Gatsby

Setting ExamplesSetting Examples

ThemeTheme

• Central idea that serves to unify the story

• Every element of the novel contributes

• Teamwork • Discrimination • Pride

• Trust • Resourcefulness • Challenges

• Ethical dilemmas • Nature • Leadership

• Euthanasia • Commitment • Diversity

• Freedom • Guilt • Love

• Convictions • Heroes • Community

• Social change • Loss • Patriotism

• Communication • Evil • Family

• Friendship • Loyalty • Power

• Acceptance • Hope • Friendship

• Customs • Loneliness • Values

• Money • Death • War

• Choices • Prejudice

• Denial • Poverty

Theme TopicsTheme Topics

The Picaresque NovelThe Picaresque Novel (Spanish: "picaresca," from "pícaro," for "rogue" or "

rascal") is a popular sub-genre of prose fiction which is usually satirical and depicts, in realistic and often humorous detail, the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society.

Picaresque Novel

(1)A picaresque narrative is usually written in first person as an autobiographical account. (2) The main character is often of low character or social class. He or she gets by with wit and rarely deigns to hold a job. (3) There is no plot. The story is told in a series of loosely connected adventures or episodes. (4) There is little if any character development in the main character. Once a picaro, always a picaro. His or her circumstances may change but rarely result in a change of heart. (5) The picaro's story is told with a plainness of language or realism. (6) Satire is a prominent element. (7) The behavior of a picaresque hero or heroine stops just short of criminality.

Epistolary Novel

An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic "documents" such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use. The word epistolary is derived through Latin from the Greek word ἐπιστολή epistolē, meaning a letter (see epistle).The epistolary form can add greater realism to a story, because it mimics the workings of real life. It is thus able to demonstrate differing points of view without recourse to the device of an omniscient narrator.

The Trilogy NovelThe Trilogy Novel

• Three novels in a sequence which tell a story

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

• The Star Wars Trilogy

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

• Novels serve many purposes:• Help us understand

our own heritage

• Illuminate the human experience

• Can be a catalyst for social and political change

• Document an event for better understanding

The END