Literatura Contemporánea Inglesa I

Trabajo Práctico Nº 4: Novels

Nombre: María Retrivi

DNI: 36906388

Fecha: 22/10/19

Calificación: 10 (ten)

Consignas:

 After reading all the material and watching the video "Novels, Society and
History - Rise of the Novel” answer the following questions.

1. Which are the main characteristics of the genre? (2 points)

The novel is a fictional genre, which uses prose to tell a story of
considerable length and a certain complexity. It is characterized for
depicting human experiences through imagination; involving people in a
sequence of events and placing them in a peculiar setting.
2. Which were the different reasons which turned the novel into such a
popular genre? (2 points)
The main reason that turned the novel into a popular genre was the wide
circulation of written copies as a result of technological innovations in the
printing press which brought down the prices of printed books. Thus, novels
became a mass-produced item to be sold. In addition, the rise of circulating
libraries allowed people across different strata of society to have access to
novels.

3. When were the first novels written? Who read them? (2 points)
The first novels were written in the 17th century, although they blossomed
during the 18th century. In England and France, people from all social
 strata became the first readers of novels: aristocrats, gentlemanly class
and the upcoming lower-middle class.

4. Why did writers feel more freedom to write about different topics after the
development of the printing press? (2 points)
As writers no longer relied on aristocratic patronage because they
achieved financial independency, they had the chance to experiment
with various styles of writing. Novels were about everyday lives of
ordinary people and depicted the situations they had to go through. They
came the mirror of society.

5. What made the novel an ever evolving and flourishing literary form? (2
points)
Novels were an ever evolving and flourishing literary form due to their
crossing plots, varied themes, lucid language and easy accessibility.