During which century did the novel become an important literary genre?
The 18th century.
What made books easier to produce and distribute?
The development of printing.
Were early novels generally written in prose or poetry?
Prose.
Who wrote Robinson Crusoe?
Daniel Defoe.
Did the rise of the novel change English literature?
Yes.
What is a novel?
A long fictional story written in prose.
Which social class became more interested in reading books?
The middle class.
What does realism mean in novels?
Describing believable events and everyday life.
Who developed the epistolary novel?
Samuel Richardson.
Can you name six books you have read in this subject so far?
1. Beowulf
2. The Canterbury Tales
3. Hamlet
4.Paradise Lost
5.Pride and Prejudice
6.Frankenstein
What were the main forms of literature before the novel became popular?
Poetry, drama and epic stories.
Who became an important group of novel readers?
Women.
What type of characters often appeared in early novels?
Middle-class people, servants and ordinary individuals.
Which novel tells the story of a young woman trying to protect her virtue and independence?
Pamela.
What opportunities did the novel give women?
Opportunities to participate as readers and writers.
Between which years did the novel develop into an important genre in England?
1660–1800.
Name two types of publications that helped spread new ideas.
Newspapers and magazines.
What did writers focus on when describing individual experience?
Personal feelings, choices and experiences.
Who wrote Pride and Prejudice?
Jane Austen.
Name three social issues discussed in novels.
Social class, marriage and morality.
What aspects of ordinary people's lives does a novel usually describe?
Their feelings, experiences and problems.
Why did middle-class readers enjoy novels?
They wanted stories about everyday life and realistic characters.
Why were detailed descriptions important in early novels?
They helped readers imagine places, people and events clearly.
Which Samuel Richardson novel tells a tragic story about family pressure and personal freedom?
Clarissa.
How did the rise of the novel influence modern literature?
It established the novel as a major literary genre that remains popular today.