An essential collection of notes about the novel

1. The novel
Sources

2. • Rise of newspapers spreading out all over
England. Most novelists were journalists.
• A deep interest in political matters after
the victorious Revolution in 1688
• The lack of censorship after 1694
• The increasing number of readers including
women

3. Definition
It derives from Latin 'novus',
new and from Italian 'novella',
it was not completely new as a
literary genre but it reported
about facts as newspapers.

4. Features
• A story, the plot with the presence of a few
characters
• A careful handling of space and time
• Peculiar communicative qualities
• The celebration of bourgeois common
sense values

5. Plots are based on
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The psychological growth of one character
A journey, real or fantastic
A series of adventures characters have to cope with
The development of a personal relationship
Social or political issues

6. Influences

7. • Not only newspapers influenced the novel
• The strict Puritan code
• The contract-making merchant ethics
• The adventurous colonizing spirit
• The self made man as a model