4-1) HISTORY OF NOVEL
The eighteenth century has gifted English literature two entirely new forms which are without
any traces in the ancient classical heritage. One of those was ‘The Periodical Essay’ and the
other was ‘NOVEL’. Both of these forms, especially ‘novel’, caught the spirit of the eighteenth
century as the age of
intellectual, sentimental and realistic plane and tried
to instruct the readers, which would help them to a more purposeful and virtuous
life. Since the time of its origin, novel has been gaining popularity and growing
gradually. Today, it is recognized as the most dominant literary genre.
A novel is a relatively long
narrative fiction which describes intimate (जिव्हाळयाचा)
human experiences normally in a prose form. The present English word ‘novel’ is derived
from the Italian ‘novella’, meaning ‘new’. A novel narrates a story embellishing it
with more details of time, place, nature, people and their minds, their gestures
and activities. It creates the picture of the society of
that time. Novel makes life easier
to understand than in drama and poetry. In modern era novel has adopted literary
prose.
The novel as a literary genre has a history of about two thousand years.Among
the early precursors of novel a collection of tales known as Greek Romances dating
from the second to sixth century may top the list. These imaginative and delightful
stories of ideal love and marvellous
adventures profoundly (खोलवर) affected the creative writing for the next thousand years. Though
novel in the modern era usually makes use of a literary prose the earlier threads of the
genre can be found in Virgil’s Ecologues or Malory’s ‘Morte De Arthur’ or Geoffrey
Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’.
Murasaki
Shikibu’s ‘Tale of Genji’ (1010) (जापनीस psychological
woman writer )
been described as the world’s first novel. The
European novel is often said to begin with ‘Don Quixote’ by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes which
was published in two parts between 1605 and1615. In the 18th century, the appearance of newspaper
and magazines attracted a large number of readers from the middle class.
These new readers had little interest in romances and tragedies, which were appreciated by
the upper class. Thus, need for a new type of literature arose that would express the
new ideas of the 18th century. The 18th century new literature was characterized
by the spirit of realism and denial
of romantic features like enthusiasm, passion
and imagination. The foreground for the novel was prepared by all these factors.
After 1740, novel originated as the literary form in England. Increase in trade and
commerce, along with the Industrial Revolution,
had given rise to the middle
class. A class of people had
emerged to occupy an elite status. The realistic
picture
of everyday life and problems of
common people depicted in the novels appealed to
the newly educated class and was
regarded by them as respectable reading material.
Thus, novel as a form appears to have been designed for both to voice the aspirations
of the middle and lower classes and meet their longings. The spread of machines
could provide a time to the educated middle class for reading and discussions about
the books. Drama and poetry were the two literary forms that were fading away.
Novel was a combination of some features of them and some new features were added
to the form. It was the prominent form in the eighteenth century and onwards to
encompass (एकत्र आणणे) the social, political and cultural happenings and scientific progress.
‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ by John Bunyan (1678) and ‘Oroonoku’ by Aphra
Behn (1688) initiated the plenteous (विपुल) and colourful tradition of English novel and
was followed by Daniel Defoe ( Robinson Crusoe, Mall Flanders), and Jonathan Swift
(‘Gulliver’s Travels’ - a famous satire). Other major novelists of 18th century are
Samuel Richardson, (‘Pamela, or
Virtue Rewarded’ and ‘Clarissa,’ both epistolary
novels), Henry Fielding, Lawrence Sterne and Tobias Smollett. The tradition was
enriched by many other stalwart (loyal) novelists such as Charles Dickens, Walter Scott,
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Horace Walpole, Thomas Hardy, Willkie Collins and H.G.
Wells. The 20th century is marked by the modern topics and innovative styles and
techniques and widened angles of the views by the novelists like E.M. Forster,
James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, Henry James, George Orwell, Graham Greene, D.H.
Lawrence, William Golding and Anthony Burgess. They widened the circumference
of the genre by writing political, social, psychological and other modern issues in
their novels. There are immigrant (स्थलांतरित) authors like Salman Rushdie
(India), V.S. Naipaul
(Trinidad), Kazuo Ishigura (Japan) and many others.
The contribution of women novelists to this great pageant cannot be neglected.
The novel of manners ‘Evelina’ by Frances
Burney, Gothic novels by Ann
Radcliffe, a novel based on Science of the age ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley are
landmark novels. Jane Austen has been ruling over the minds of the people through
her novels. Bronte sisters Emily and Charlotte have created their own place by
their incomparable works ‘The Wuthering
Heights’ and ‘Jane Eyre’. Mary Ann Evans alias (pen name of) George Eliot wrote the novels
reflecting psychological insight. Virginia Woolf is the pioneer of the Stream of
Consciousness technique in English novel. Agatha Christie created her own place
by writing many novels based on crime. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are the
evergreen detectives created by her.Harper Lee, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison and
Alice Walker have elevated the tradition further to prosperity.
Indian Scenario :
‘Rajmohan’s Wife’, by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya serialized in
‘The Indian Field’ was the first novel in English written by an Indian. The period
after that is marked by few more novels written by the Indian writers. These
novels bore either nationalistic virtues or social issues as their main framework.
Mulkraj Anand, R.K. Narayan and Raja Rao were the major trio who prevailed in
the period after that. Novelists like Anita Desai, Nayantara Sahgal and Arun Joshi
and Manohar Malgaonkar changed the current of Indian English novel through
their works. Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth and Upamanyu
Chatterjee ameliorated (सुधारीत)
the Indian novel in English by adding new features to it. Recent years have witnessed
the dazzling performance by Indian novelists like Salman Rushsie, Arvind
Adiga, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai and Kiran Nagarkar. The tradition of Indian
: English novel has undergone a vital change since its birth and it has undoubtedly very
bright future.
Novella : Novella :
• A Novella, the word originated
from the Italian word ‘novelle’, is a type of prose fiction which is shorter than a full length novel
and longer than short stories. It is a well-stuctured yet short narrative,
often satiric or realistic in tone. It usually focuses on one incident or issue
with one or two main characters and takes place at a single tradition. Some of
the famous novellas in English are -
-
• ‘The Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad
• ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James
• ‘Billy Budd’ by Hermann Melville
• ‘Death in Venice’ by Thomas Mann
• ‘Seize The Day’ by Saul Bellow
• ‘Pearl’ by John Steinbeck
Elements of Novel/ Novella
There are six elements essential of ‘Novel’ or “Novella’. All these factors may
be related to one another in the work by an author.
Theme :
Theme is the central idea in the novel which can be expressed in a
nutshell. It is a philosophical statement or a truth which the writer has put forth through
the narration of the series of events in the story and characters acting in the particular
setting.
Plot :
Plot is essentially the story or the course of events that make up the theme.
It is created by the conflict either internal (inside the mind of the character) or external
(with other characters or entities). Plot may be simple (one plot) or complex (consisting
the interweaving of many subplots).
Character :
Characterization is related to the plot as the course of events take
place because of the certain behaviour of the characters.
Depiction of character can range from a thumbnail (short) sketch to deep, wordy, highly
detailed verbal sketch. The important character may have been described in
its every aspect by the writer. The minor characters are not given much importance.
The reader follows the actions of one main character throughout the novel. This
character is referred to as the ‘protagonist’. Protagonist (main character) is in conflict
with a character or an entity or a force (internal or
external) which is known
as antagonist. (खलनायक /विरोधक)
Setting :
Setting is the background in which the story takes place.
There are several aspects of the setting. It includes place, period, time, climate or
weather and lifestyle. Plot and character are the two major elements that are affected
due to setting.
Conflict : The struggle between the opposite forces in the story is called
‘conflict.’ Conflict in the story provides interest and curiosity about the plot.
Language / Style :
The language and the techniques used by the author for the
narration of the course of events is known as the ‘style’.
An author can use extensive (मोठी) vocabulary and high phrases or he may be
Laconic (brief) and would write only to the point or he may mix both according to
the
requirement for meeting his purpose. He may use linguistic(भाषिक) devices to make the narrative effective.
All these factors decide the ‘texture’(जडणघडण) of the narration and create an impact on the readers.
Point of view
Dialogue
Atmosphere
Types of Novel
Realistic novel :
The realistic novel is a fiction that gives the effect of realism.
Sometimes this is also called a novel of manner. It can be characterized by its
complex characters with mixed motives that are rooted in the social class. The
characters in the realistic novel interact with other characters and undergo plausible
(वाजवी)and everyday experiences.
Picaresque novel :
The word ‘picaresque’ is originated from the Spanish
word ‘picaro,’ which means a rogue(नकली / व्हिलन). A picaresque novel narrates the adventures
of the protagonist, who is an eccentric(विक्षिप्त) or a disreputable person, in an episodic form.
Historical novel : A historical novel is a novel set in a period earlier than that of the writing.
Epistolary novel :
The word ‘epistolary’ derives from the Latin word
‘epistola,’ which means a letter. The epistolary novel is that in which the writer
presents the narrative through a series of correspondence or other documents.
Although letters are the most common basis for epistolary novel, diary entries are
also a popular form of this type.
Gothic novel :
The novels that include terror, mystery, horror, thriller, supernatural,
doom, death or decay or haunted buildings are called The Gothic novels.
Autobiographical novel :
The autobiographical novel is the novel based on the life of the author.
However, the author changes the places and names of
characters or even may change or avoid certain details of his life. It may or may not
be in the first person narration.
Allegorical novel :
An allegory is a story that bears more than one level of meaning. The surface meaning of such
novel is different from the symbolic meaning of it. The symbolic meaning of
an allegory may be political, religious, historical or philosophical.
Utopian/ Dystopian novel :
Utopia is an imaginary community or society
possessing the ideal qualities. It is a common literary theme, especially in science fiction
or speculative fiction.
Psychological novel :
Psychological novel is the work of fiction that treats the
internal life of the protagonist or even the other characters as much as the external
factors.
Stream of Consciousness novel
:Stream of consciousness is a phrase coined
by William James in his treatise ‘Principles of Psychology.’ (1890). It means the flow
of the thoughts. Incidents in the plot are in the sequence of their occurrences. The
novelist narrates them as they enter the mind of the character.
‘Bildungsroman’
novel :
The German word ‘bildungsroman’ indicates growth.
The fictional biography or autobiography is concerned with the growth of the
protagonist’s mind, spirit and characters from their childhood to adulthood.
In the first half of the 20th century a cult (फॅशन) of ‘pulp magazines’ (pulp-writing that is regarded as being poor quality)became popular
in which fantastic fiction for the general entertainment of the masses was printed on
the cheap pulp paper. The pulp
fiction era provided a building ground for the detective
novels and science fiction.
Science fiction is a genre of speculative (सिद्धांतामक )fiction dealing with imaginative concepts
such as futuristic setting, futuristic science and technology, space travel, time travel,
parallel universes and extraterrestrial life. Science fiction often explores the
potential consequences of scientific and other innovations. ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary
Shelly (1823) is considered the first novel based on science and technology. The
genre flourished in the second half of the 19th century.
Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a
detective-either professional or amateur-investigates a
crime, often a murder.
Activities on HISTORY OF
NOVEL
(1) Match the columns:
A B
(a) Murasaki Shikibu (1) Cervantes
(b) Novella (2) Bankimchandra Chattopadhyaya
(c) Don Quixote (3) Tale of Genji
(d) Rajmohan’s Wife (4) New
Answer – a-3
b-4
c-1
d-2
(2) Pick out the odd element from the group.
(i) Arun Joshi, Vikram Seth, Graham Greene, Kiran Nagarkar
Ans - Graham Greene(English writer)others are Indian
(ii) Place, Period, Theme, Climate, Lifestyle
Ans-Theme is the element of nove lwhile
others are aspects of setting
(iii) Theme, Plot, Character, Novella
Ans-Novella is a novel others are
elements of novel.
(3) Complete the following
statements:
(i) The two types of conflicts that the plot may have are internal and external......
(ii) The word ‘picaresque’ is originated from.........the Spanish word picaro , means a rogue......
(iii) The epistolary novel presents the narrative through.. a series of correspondence or other documents
(iv) In the eighteenth century middle class could get the time for reading and
discussing the novels because.... .
The spread of machines industrial revolution
could provide a time to the educated
middle class
(4) Write short notes on:
(i) Style of the novel=
The language and the techniques used by the author for the narration of the course of events is known as the ‘style’. An author can use extensive vocabulary and high phrases or he may be Laconic and would write only to the point or he may mix both according to the requirement for meeting his purpose. He may use linguistic devices to make the narrative effective. All these factors decide the ‘texture’) of the narration and create an impact on the readers
(ii) Stream of consciousness novel
Stream of consciousness is a phrase coined by William James in his treatise ‘Principles of Psychology.’ (1890). It means the flow of the thoughts. Incidents in the plot are in the sequence of their occurrences. The novelist narrates them as they enter the mind of the character.
(iii) Novella
A Novella, the word originated
from the Italian word ‘novelle’, is a type of prose fiction which is shorter than a full length novel
and longer than short stories. It is a well-stuctured yet short narrative,
often satiric or realistic in tone. It usually focuses on one incident or issue
with one or two main characters and takes place at a single tradition. Some of
the famous novellas in English are -
-
• ‘The Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad
• ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James
• ‘Billy Budd’ by Hermann Melville
(iv) Indian tradition of novels.
Ans= ‘Rajmohan’s Wife’, by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya serialized in
‘The Indian Field’ was the first novel in English written by an Indian. The period
after that is marked by few more novels written by the Indian writers. These
novels bore either nationalistic virtues or social issues as their main framework.
Mulkraj Anand, R.K. Narayan and Raja Rao were the major trio who prevailed in
the period after that. Novelists like Anita Desai, Nayantara Sahgal and Arun Joshi
and Manohar Malgaonkar changed the current of Indian English novel through
their works. Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth and Upamanyu
Chatterjee ameliorated
the Indian novel in English by adding new features to it. Recent years have witnessed
the dazzling performance by Indian novelists like Salman Rushsie, Arvind
Adiga , Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai and Kiran Nagarkar. The tradition of Indian
English novel has undergone a vital change since its birth and it has undoubtedly very
bright future.
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