The Novel is one of the most varied, one of the most complex and one of the most popular of literary genres. The actual word “Novel” is derived from the Italian word “Novella”, the terms used for hundred narratives which appeared in the latter half of the 13th Century. Until the 17th Century the word Novel meant to be a short story, generally of love or of the kind written and collected by Boccaccio. By about 1700 it had got something like its present meaning, which as the shorter oxford dictionary tells us.
“A fictitious prose narrative of considerable length in which characters and actions, representative of real life are portrayed in a plot of more or less complexity.”
A novel is considered to be a medium of entertainment and information. It has a tendency to draw the readers to an imaginary world. A question arises in our mind that “Is Novel a mere printed content in a volume?”
It can be very well answered as novel being a transaction that takes place between the reader and the book.
Certain questions still arises in our mind as “How do we interpret the written form?” The answer is that it can be indeed regarded as a form of entertainment.
We gradually come closer to the definition of the novel by asking various questions related to the novel form. If we question the usefulness of the novel, we come across various uses of a novel. As in to introduce readers to new environment and conditions of life, manners and customs of current social classes, new modes of feeling, new fashions, interests and tastes. The reader assumes the character to be real. Thus, a novel becomes an experience of life.
Novel has been defied by many novelists in their own point of view. Henry Fielding who is also considered to be the father of English novel has defined Novel as “a comic epic in prose.”
A novel is a mirror journeying down the high road. Professor Warren defines Novel as “a fictitious narrative which contains a plot.” And Clara Reeve defines Novel as “picture of real life of manners and of the times in which it is written.”
There are four main novelists who played a significant role in the history of novel form. These novelists are also considered to be the four wheels of English novel. They are Henry Fielding, who wrote ‘Joseph Andrews’ which became a remarkable example of novel form. Another novelist is Tobias Smollett, who wrote ‘Roderick Random’ has acquired an important position in the history of novel. Laurence Sterne had tried his hand on a distinct style of writing, his novel ‘Tristam Shandy’ is best example of his awkwardly known style. The fourth wheel is Samuel Richardson; he introduced a new adventurous form of novel by his novel ‘Robinson Crusoe.’
We move further to the characteristics of the novel.
E. M. Foster is a well-known novelist, who is known for his novels based on different backgrounds and mannerisms of society. He defined novel as “tradition and technique of fiction changes from generation to generation but the basic idea of the novel does not change.”
E. M. Foster has elaborated the aspects of novel in a lecture that he delivered in 1927 at the Trinity College, Cambridge. There are various aspects of novel discussed by him which includes story, plot, characters, rhythm and pattern so on and so forth. He talked about story as an important element of novel. A novel tells a story right from the days of a cave man to modern times. It keeps the reader interested in the novel. The best example of a well told stories are Sir Walter Scott’s ‘The Antiquary’ and Arnold Bennett’s ‘The Old Wives Tale’ story creates an interest in the minds of the readers. Thus, it is considered to be the soul of the novel. A story is always incomplete without the characters.
The characters are human beings. A similarity between a novelist and his characters is imaginations. He gives them a place and a name. Moll Flanders is a wonderful character from Daniel Defoe’s novel ‘Moll Flanders’. The protagonist is a lady who is throbbing with life and marries three to four times. She even practices prostitution and is a thief. But her character is portrayed in an attractive manner.
Characters can be categorised in two kinds as, Round character and Flat Character. If we take flat character into consideration they are the character with humour and don’t change at all. But they can be useful only in comic novels and not inn tragic novels. Some of the best known examples of flat characters are Mrs Micawber from ‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens. Flat characters are usually observed from their outer appearance or external behaviours. They are simply to be laughed at. For, example: Mrs. Slipslop from ‘Joseph Andrews’ by Henry Fielding.
In comparison with flat characters, round characters are described both physically and internally too. For, example: Joseph Andrews from ‘Joseph Andrews’ by Henry Fielding. Most of the round characters are called tragic character. Jane Austen characters are always round characters and are highly organised. Some of the round characters become popular. For, example: ‘Becky’ in ‘Vanity Fair’. A lot of round character is also seen in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel. Round characters don’t remain the same every time you see them. They are new and surprise you. For, example: Parson Adams from ‘Joseph Andrews’ by Henry Fielding.
The story and the character can’t find a proper way except a well-constructed plot. A plot is known as the skeleton of the novel. It generates curiosity in the mind of the reader.
By defining plot, Aristotle explains “Character gives us qualities, But it is in action – what we do – that we are happy or the reverse”.
In a novel the writer talks about his characters and through them by placing them in a plot. In a story we ask the question ‘why?’ Plot therefore demands intelligence and sharp memory. It constructed in a particular way. For, example: George Meredith, who is well-known for plot construction. Another example is Thomas Hardy
To let the story flow throughout the novel pattern and rhythm is equally important. It also connects the story with the plot. Plot springs from the story and patterns springs from the plot. Patter and rhythm is considered equalling to the theme of the novel. Rhythm can be obvious or subtle. For, example of rhythm and pattern is ‘Thais’ by Anatole France and ‘Roman Pictures’ by Percy Lubbock.
In conclusion with the above mentioned matter, we can conclude that the novel form containing all. Its aspects provides us with a full-fledged novel having interesting characters, plot, story, pattern and rhythm which makes us feel related to our life and proves to be a mere source of entertainment.
Jigar Makwana 