The Upsurge of the English Novel

The rise of the English novel in English literature has a long and colorful history. Not until the eighteenth century, however, did the novel genre appear and it completely broke the traditions of the past and opened the door to a whole new generation of writers. This new genre helped alter the literary landscape forever, as reading novels has developed our own perspectives giving us understanding and control. Moreover, it is one of the most persuasive and influential factors in life, as it makes us realize our humanity. The purpose of this book is to attempt to give first a short brief historical background of the rise of the English novel. Secondly, reasons behind the rise of the English novel are analyzed. Thirdly, the elements of the novel are discussed in detail. Fourthly, the three stages of reading a novel are illuminated. Fifthly, satire in Swift's Gulliver's Travels (1726) is examined thoroughly. Finally, Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719) is critically analyzed and evaluated via two perspectives namely the postcolonial theory and the spiritual journey. This book should be useful to students and literature instructors at Faculties of Arts and Humanities.