Novel and Animal Farm

On Novel General Introduction What is Fiction? What are the types of fiction? Short stories Tell a complete story in a few thousand words, usually between 3000 to 5000 words. Have one plot-line Have a limited number of characters Have limited settings Focus on one subject Edgar...

On Novel General Introduction What is Fiction? What are the types of fiction? Short stories Tell a complete story in a few thousand words, usually between 3000 to 5000 words. Have one plot-line Have a limited number of characters Have limited settings Focus on one subject Edgar Allan Poe, Anton Chekhov and Ernest Hemingway are among the famous short story writers.  Novellas Are mid-way in length between short stories and a full-length novel, usually between 10,000 to 40,000 words. Usually have one plot-line. Are not always divided into chapters.  Novels Are a relatively modern form of literature. Often have a number of different plot lines which can support or contrast each other. Have different settings Usually have several characters and their stories. Are often divided into chapters. The rise of the novel The publication of Robinson Crusoe in 1719 was an extraordinary event in the history of literature. Types of the Novel Realistic Novel A fictional attempt to give the effect of realism. This sort of novel is sometimes called a novel of manner. A realistic novel can be characterized by its complex characters with mixed motives that are rooted in social class and operate according to highly developed social structure. The characters in realistic novel interact with other characters and undergo plausible and everyday experiences. Examples: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Looking for Alaska by John Green.  Historical Novel A Historical novel is a novel set in a period earlier than that of the writing. Examples: Thackeray's Vanity Fair, Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities Gothic Novel Gothic novel includes terror, mystery, horror, thriller, supernatural, doom, death, decay, old haunted buildings with ghosts and so on. Examples Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, John William Polidori’s The Vampyre  Autobiographical Novel An autobiographical novel is a novel based on the life of the author. Examples Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield D. H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers Allegorical Novel An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning- surface meaning and symbolic meaning. The symbolic meaning of an allegory can be political or religious, historical or philosophical. Examples Animal Farm by George Orwell The Lord of the Flies by William Golding How to analyse a novel In literature, the meaning isn't often stated directly, but is implied. You have to get a sense on your own of what the work means, instead of having the author explicitly saying, "This is idea 1, and this is idea 2.“ the following points are important to consider when reading and analyzing literature in general and novels in particular. Characters: Who are the main characters in the piece? What are the names and roles of the main characters? Narrator: Who is the narrator, the person telling the story? Events and interaction ( ): What happens in the story? What is the beginning, middle and end of the story? How is the conflict created, and how is it resolved?  Setting: Where does the piece take place? Is the setting critical to the story? Does the setting provide background? Does the setting give historical, physical, or other information that is key to the story? Writing style: What does the writing style tell you about the story? Is the writing richly detailed? How does the writing style affect the meaning? Do you have to make assumptions or guesses because there are gaps? Theme: What are the themes of the story? What elements or ideas are repeated or emphasized? Think about this throughout your reading, not just at the end. Notice what people, places, and events pop up over and over again. Chapters I-II from Animal Farm (George Orwell) Animal Farm (novel) George Orwell (1903-1950) Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop holes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring. As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. Word had gone round during the day that old Major, the prize Middle White boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. Jones was safely out of the way. Old Major (so he was always called, though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say.