PSYCHOLOGICAL NOVEL – IN BRIEF

MEANING
• A Psychological novel (also called psychological realism) is a prose
fiction that deals with the complex mental and emotional lives of its
characters.
• As the name suggests, it is related to the inner psyche of the
characters.
• The writer explores deeply the thought process, the motives of the
character.
• This type of novel places greater focus on inner characterisation and
explanation of the mental state of the characters.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

• Giovanni Boccaccio’s “Elegia di Madonna Fiammetta” (1934) is considered
as an early example of psychological novel in the west.

• “The Tale of Genji” is a 11th century psychological novel from Japanese

Literature and is written by Murasaki Shikibu. It portrays the life of high
courtiers during the Heian period.

• In French literature, “The Red and the Black” by Stendhal is regarded as an

early novel which set the scene for psychological novel

• Psychological novel in the true sense of the term came to it’s potential in
the 20th century. Traditional writers used to just tell the story for their
own sake keeping themselves and their thoughts outside the story. But
the 20th century was an age where more focus was put on inner reality.

• 20th century literature is also characterised by fragmented structure,

fragmented perspective, stream of consciousness. All these form
important features of psychological novel.

• Knut Hamsun is the father of psychological novel. As per the Encyclopedia

of the novel, modern psychological novel stemmed in the works of Knut
 Hamsun (Nobel Laureate). Knut Hamsun’s works include Hunger(1890),
Mysteries (1892), Pan (1894) and Victoria (1898)

• The development of the psychological novel occurred simultaneously with

the development of psychology and the findings of Sigmund
Freud.Sigmund Freud did have an influence on 20th century literature but
this influence was more on literary criticism as compared to creative
literature. Freud had an impact of psychological novelist like Virginia
Woolf and James Joyce.

FEATURES
1. It focuses on the mental state of the characters.
2. Events may not be presented in a linear order. The structure can be
fragmented like events may be presented as they occur in the
character’s memories, thoughts.
3. Techniques like flashback, internal monologue, stream of
consciousness are used. These techniques help us to understand the
inner workings of the character’s mind.
4. The external event may lead to an emotional response or an emotional
response could lead to an external action.
5. The motives and thoughts of characters are given equal or greater
importance as compared to the plot.

EXAMPLES
1. The Portrait of a Lady – Henry James
2. Villette- Charlotte Bronte
3. Ulysses- James Joyce
4. Dubliners- James Joyce
5. Mill on the Floss- George Eliot
6. The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
7. Crime and Punishment- Fyodor Dostoevsky