The English Novel

Dr Sami S. Breem

2nd Semester 2012

Definition

1) Definition of the novel

The oxford English Dictionary defines the novel:

‘ a fictitious prose narrative or tale of considerable length

(now usually on e long enough to fill one or more volumes)

in which characters and actions representative of the real life

of past or present times are portrayed in a plot of more

or less complexity.’

Why study the Novel?

Language model

Cultural model

Personal growth model

History of the novel

The 18th Century (The Rise of the novel)

Different reasons for the emergence of the Novel

Rise of literacy

Printing

Market economy

Secularism

individualism

Classification of novels

Classification of novels:

Romantic

realistic

Other types may include:

Social novels, domestic novels, historical novels

Political novels, satirical novels, autobiographical novels,

biographical novels

Types of novels (continued)

Picaresque novel, epistolary novel, regional novel

Science fiction, gothic novel, Fable, allegorical

novel

Novels Can fit in more than one category/type

Narrative features in the novel

Plot/events/actions Characterization Themes Setting Structure Symbolism Intertextuality Speech and thought

presentation Dialogue

Figurative languagepoint of view

Linguistic indicators

Definite/indefinite referencesDeixisSchema languageAnaphoric/ cataphoric referencesSocial deixis

Any word can be deictic if the reader attaches meaning to it