The Rise of the Novel: The Augustan Age

Study Notes

The Augustan Age (18th Century): Key concepts included political stability, individualism, liberal thought and free will, optimism, reason, and a desire for balance and symmetry in the arts.

Growth of the middle class: The growing importance of the middle class contributed to the increase in the reading public.
Individual confidence: Individuals increasingly trusted their own abilities and were interested in self-analysis.
Borrowing and Lending: Middle-class women were frequent readers and borrowed books from lending and circulating libraries.
Coffee Houses: Coffee houses provided a space for the circulation of news and opinions, further fostering interest in reading.
Journalism: The rising interest in literature led to the development of journalism.
- The Tatler and The Spectator: These were early English newspapers known for their simple, lively style and didactic aim.
- The rise of the novel: The interest in literature and journalism facilitated the growth of the novel; particularly because readers found the novel related to their experiences.

Chronological Accuracy: Novels used precise chronological details including dates, times of day, and locations (e.g., "I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York").
Detailed Descriptions: Detailed descriptions of settings and interiors were crucial for making narratives more realistic.
Specific Place Names: Novels used specific names of countries, towns, and streets to enhance the sense of realism.

First Person Narration: Authors like Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift used first-person narration for fictional autobiographies and accounts of experiences.
Third Person Narration: Henry Fielding used third-person narration in his novels.
Patterns: The patterns used by authors included fictional autobiographies, and the mock-epic style.

The Hero: Frequently, the hero was a realistic, bourgeois, self-made, and self-reliant man, with whom readers could sympathize.
Mouthpiece of the Author: The hero often served as the author's mouthpiece.
Contemporary Names: Characters often had contemporary names and surnames. (e.g., Robinson Crusoe)
Character Struggles: Characters often struggled with survival and social success.

Spokesman of the Middle Class: Novelists often acted as spokespeople for the middle class.
Founders of the English Novel: Writers like Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift were key figures in developing the English novel.
- Defoe: Known for his realistic novels.
- Swift: Famous for his utopian novels.

Wide Audience: Novelists aimed to be understood by a wide audience and to that end they wrote their works in a clear and simple way.
Realistic and Detailed Representation: Realism was prioritized in the novel, meaning the presentation of the story, its characters, and its world had to be realistic.
Commercial Success: Speed and copiousness were essential traits for attracting booksellers as customers.

Real Life: Novels often depicted real-life scenarios and experiences.
Social Status: Exploring events, experiences, or factors that altered social standing was typical in novels.
Reward and Punishment: The theme of reward and punishment often reflected the Puritan ethics of the middle class.