9 Questions
Which of the following factors contributed to the development of the novel as a literary genre in the 18th century?
All of the above
What type of narration and focus did novels in the 18th century typically employ?
First-person narration with a focus on regular, everyday life
Which of the following conventions, still common in novels today, was pioneered during the 18th century?
The breaking down of larger works into chapters or books
What was one of the purposes of 18th century novels, apart from entertainment?
To convey a moral purpose
Which of the following groups contributed to the creation of new reading publics for novels in the 18th century?
Women and the middling classes
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a factor contributing to the rise of the novel in the 18th century?
The expansion of the printing industry
What type of desires were covertly tied to the rise of the novel in the 18th century?
Desires related to gender, race, and class
Which of the following statements is NOT true about 18th century novels, according to the text?
They were written primarily for the entertainment of the upper classes
What type of literature was already popular before the rise of the novel in the 18th century?
Autobiography, biography, journals, diaries, and memoirs
Study Notes
Development of the Modern Novel
- The 18th century saw the emergence of the modern novel as a literary genre, with many candidates for the first novel in English dating from this period.
Factors Contributing to the Novel's Rise
- The expansion of the middle class led to:
- Increased literacy rates
- Greater disposable income to spend on literature
- Existing popularity of autobiography, biography, journals, diaries, and memoirs also contributed to the novel's rise
- Other factors included:
- The rise of science
- Decline of religion
- Emergence of the middle class
- Commodification of English taste
- Success of colonization and capitalism
- Changes in domestic architecture
- Creation of new reading publics (women, middling classes, rural and urban gentlefolk)
- Covert desires tied to gender, race, and class
Conventions of 18th Century Novels
- Breakdown of larger works into chapters or books (e.g., Book I, Book II)
- Focus on realism through:
- First-person narration
- Everyday, ordinary life
- Moral purpose, addressing difficult themes such as:
- Adultery
- Desire
- Writers aimed to teach a lesson while entertaining the masses
Explore how the modern novel as a literary genre came to be in the 18th century. Learn about the public demand for novels, the expansion of the middle class, and the interest in autobiographical writings that contributed to the rise of the novel.
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