Topic: “The Rise of Novel: Crusoe to Jane Austen”

Subject: Introduction to Literature-I

Course code: ENG-3206
Submitted to: prof. Yasir Shaikh
Submitted by: Mansoor Ahmed Bhatti
Roll No: 21
Program: BS English
Semester: 2nd
Session: 2021-2025
Submission Date: May 30, 2022.

Department of English
RLS Govt. Post Graduate College Dhirkot

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 Abstract

Novel as a literary genre enjoyed the highest level of glory in the 18th century. The
authors namely Defoe, Richardson, Fielding and Sterne contributed significantly to the
development of English novel. They influenced the writers who came after them. The 18th
century coincided with the industrial revolution which significantly contributed to the rise of the
novel (with the invention of printing machine). The chain effects of industrial revolution
improved people’s life and living standard. The rise of the educated middle class people further
increased the reading publi c which correspondingly led to demand of novels for reading

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 Table of Contents

Title page…………………………………………………………………………………………..i
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii

01:Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Novel ................................................................................................................................................... 1
02: The Rise of the Novel ........................................................................................................................... 1
O3: Factors that influenced the rise of novel:........................................................................................... 2
3.1 Industrial revolution: ........................................................................................................................... 2
3.2 Decline of romance and drama: .......................................................................................................... 2
3.3 Rise of the middle ............................................................................................................................... 2
3.4 Mobile libraries: .................................................................................................................................. 3
04 A Highlight of the 18th Century .......................................................................................................... 3
4.1 Features of 18th century novels: .......................................................................................................... 4
05: Major contributions in the Rise of novel ........................................................................................... 4
5.1 Jane Austen: ........................................................................................................................................ 4
5.2 Daniel Dafoe and the Significance of Robinson Crusoe ..................................................................... 4
5.3 Jonathan Swift:.................................................................................................................................... 5
5.4 Fanny Burney:..................................................................................................................................... 6
5.5 Samuel Richardson: ............................................................................................................................ 7
06 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 8

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 01:Introduction

1.1 Novel:
According to The Shorter Oxford Dictionary, novel is ―a fictitious prose
narrative of considerable length in which characters and actions representative of real life are
portrayed in a plot of more or less complexity‖ . Another definition by an anonymous author
states that a novel is ―a piece of prose fiction of a reasonable length‖. Both the definitions
highlight the word ‗prose‘ meaning the common or ordinary spoken form of language without
the presence of poetic rhythmic structure
A novel is an invented prose narrative of significant length and complexity
that deals imaginatively with human experience. Its roots can be traced back thousands of years,
though its origins in English are traditionally placed in the 18th century.

While historians argue about the ―first‖ novel, the definition of the novel could
be a separate argument itself. With the different perspectives associated with the novel, the
definition as it emerged in the 18th century included many facets. Different definitions of the
novel include: an imaginative re-creation of reality, a history, a scary conveyor of truth that
demanded scrutiny, a biography, a harmless amusement, a travel narrative, a romance, a tale of
spiritual journey. Despite the contradictions that exist within these varying perspectives on the
18th century novel, several key features among them can be picked out as components of the
novel as a new textual medium.
Contamporaneity became a common theme within the novels, writers were more
inclined to show the life of the present day versus life as it was in the past. Characters and events
were made to be believable, as if to mirror the people and events in the every day world of the
time, lending the novels credibility. Characters within the stories were presented in a manner
similar in social rank to the people reading the novels, not as kings or queens; this afforded a
level of familiarity with the readers.

02: The Rise of the Novel

Majority of the literary critics attribute 18th century as the time period in
which novel took its birth, subsequent growth and development. With adequate literary
predecessors such as Bunyan, Behn, Chaucer, Malory, Cervantes, Boccaccio and numerous
other writers of the 17th century, the 18thcentury writers availed opportunities to further
experiment and produce novel as a literary genre. Further the increase in literacy rate, industrial
revolution, rise in the middle class and coming up of libraries created favourable situations for
the rise of the novel. In the new form of literature namely the ‗novel‘ the construct of the story
departed from the romance and attempted at verisimilitude depicting the pragmatism and
morality of the middle class people. Alexander Pope‘s dictum, ―The proper study of mankind is

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men‖ influenced the interest of the people to study human character. Thus 18th century novels
explored human characters with the novelist creating real life characters in their novels unlike
giants, dragons and super human characters in the romances.

O3: Factors that influenced the rise of novel:

3.1 Industrial revolution:

One of the major factors that contributed to the rise of the novel is the
development in industries. With machinery work could be done faster and people could get more
time for rest and leisure time during which people resorted to reading novels. Printing press were
available for production of multiple copies at cheaper rate. Even low income people could afford
to buy and read books unlike in the past when only aristocrats were the reading public. Besides
variety of reading materials such as newspapers, novels and magazines were made easily
available due to printing press. The newspapers and magazines helped develop the habit of
reading which ultimately led people to start reading novels.
Some of the novels were also published in magazines increasing the access to novels
besides the book form. According to Hasan , the industrial revolution “paved the way to the rise
of the middle class people” who created demand in the reading materials for they had plenty of
leisure time. With manual work being done by machines, people could get a lot of free time for
reading. Further they had desires to read about ―their everyday experiences‖ which prompted
authors such as Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson and Henry Fielding to write prose fictions
depicting real life experiences.

3.2 Decline of romance and drama:

Since romances were mainly suitable to be read by elite,
aristocratic or noble families, it could not sustain the readership. The common people got bored
with romances for they had no relevance of any sort to them. In addition, the stories themselves
being centuries old were no longer of interest to the people. The settings in which the stories in
the romances took place were also unrealistic. Therefore, romances as a literary genre started to
decline. People started to take interest in the contemporary issues. Unlike romances, the novels
were written in first person (making it appear ‗more personal and recent‘) with ordinary
characters that the readers could relate with. Decline of drama was also one factor that promoted
the rise of the novel.

3.3 Rise of the middle class :

One outcome of industrial revolution was the rise of middle class. The
growth in industries brought about unprecedented corresponding growth with trade and
commerce. The people were increasingly becoming wealthy with even poor people of lower rung
being able to raise their status. Therefore, the additional newly attained middle class status, this
group of people started behaving like the traditional landed gentry demanding books to read.
Further, with improved living standard many (both men and women) could acquire education
and be able to read. Women readers increased with greater leisure time with the rise of middle

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class and it was a fashion for high status women to remain engaged in reading literature. Further
the new group of middle class people did not like the traditional medieval stories of the knights.

3.4 Mobile libraries:

The start of mobile libraries facilitated the increase of reading public. Reading was
promoted by providing easy access to books with books being brought to the homes if people
joined the mobile library as members. Women readers benefited a lot since they used to stay at
home and exchange books after they finish reading one from the mobile library. Though
industrial revolution, decline in romance and drama, rise of the middle class and mobile libraries
played significant role in the rise of the novel, four authors namely Defoe, Richardson, Fielding,
and Sterne took the novel to ―the highest point of glory‖ .

04 A Highlight of the 18th Century

The rise of the English novel occurred primarily in the 18th century; this does not
mean that there was no form of novels before this time. It only means that there was an increased
release of novels and novelists during this period. The 18th century was a period that lasted from
1685 – 1815.Most often, the term is used to refer to the 1700s. This is the century between
January 1, 1700, and December 31, 1799. This period witnessed a great revolution that shook the
society structure of its time. The elements of enlightened thinking were at the fore of this
revolution. This was experienced in the French, American, and Haitian revolutions.
On a larger scale, slave trading and human trafficking were at their peak. These
revolutions were pivotal, so much so that they began to challenge the structure that threatened to
asphyxiate its emergence from the monarchical system to the aristocratic privileges, especially
the systems that nurtured to flame the slave trade.
In retrospect, a more profound sense of appreciation can be ascribed to this revolution
that was seen as a threat but somehow waded through all the hurdles in its way. Without this
revolution, a lot of privileges we partake in presently would not have been a thing to imagine,
think, talk more of experience. Thanks to the revolution of the 18th century, we have and
experience life with its modern perks.
This century was called the ‗century of Light‘ or the ‗Century of Reason.‘ By this, you can tell
that several idiosyncrasies were changed from being accepted as the norm, ranging from
European politics, philosophy, communications, and science experience a total upheaval
throughout the termed ―long 18th century‖ (1688-1815).This Age of Reason, also called the
Enlightenment bore cutting-edge schools of thought. From thinkers in Britain to France and even
throughout Europe. These thinkers began to question the traditional normalcy they were born
into and had adopted through their lives.
These thinkers tasted the efficacy of rational thinking, logic and knew that their
lives and reality as a whole were never going to be the same. They discovered that their lives as
humans and others‘ lives, in all its vicissitude, can be enhanced through rational thinking.

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 4.1 Features of 18th century novels:
The writers of the 18th century bought out realism. The
novels were instruments to explore and represent the reality of the society. The authors used
verisimilitude with books imitating the real life of the people. The use of first person narrative
technique created the element of realism. Further, unlike the romances, characters in the novels
were ordinary men and women with settings familiar to the readers. In addition, the focus of the
protagonist was given on middle class people. The purpose of the novel was mainly to promote
virtuous character in people just as Richardson did. Some authors such as Swift and Smollett
used satire and allegory to point out the vices in the society.
The pioneer novelists contributed unique aspect of novel; Fielding popularized epic novels,
Richardson with epistolary and sentimental novel, Defoe with realistic novel, Swift with
satirical and philosophical novel and Sterne with experimental novel.
Thus 18th century novelist gave the novelist of the time fresh avenues and flexibility for writing
novels without having to follow established tradition as classical writers were bound to. It was an
age of revolution and experimentation of writing novels which promoted further experimentation
and creativity giving rise to subgenres or different genres of novel in the post 18th century.

05: Major contributions in the Rise of novel

5.1 Jane Austen:

she has long been the most popular novelist in the English language. Since
her novels were published in the early nineteenth century, they have never gone out of print. Her
novels helped to establish the novel form as the definitive way the 19th century represented
social reality so that it could be the locus of both intellectual analysis and narrative enjoyment.
To develop this new technology of narrative, Austen drew on novelistic genres she
inherited from the 18th century: most notably the gothic novel, the vogue for the sentimental,
and the novel of conduct and courtship. By recasting these genres, through the use of a style of
telling named ―free indirect discourse,‖ Austen developed a method of narrative that allowed the
reader to enter the mind of the main character, without becoming subject to the biases of
viewpoint made explicit in the novel of letters or the first person memoir.
What resulted is a style of novel writing that manages, through the power of her writing,
to be both authoritative and light in its touch. To explore Austen‘s innovative novel writing we
will read Sense and Sensibility, her recasting of the sentimental novel, and Pride and Prejudice,
her rewriting of the story of the ―young woman‘s entrance into the world,‖ and Emma, a canny
exploration of the pleasures and dangers of plotting the lives of others.

5.2 Daniel Dafoe and the Significance of Robinson Crusoe:

Skilton (1977) states that “Robinson Crusoe”
is certainly the first novel in the sense that it is the first fictional narrative in which the ordinary
person's activities are the centre of continuous literary attention. Before that, in the early

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eighteenth century, authors like Pope, Swift, Addison and Steele looked back to the Rome of
Caesar Augustus (27 BC—14 AD) as a golden age. That period is called the Augustan age.
Literature was very different since it focused on mythology and epic heroes. However, to what
extent can Robinson Crusoe be called the "first novel" and how is it different from all that have
been done so far, Besides, what are the evolutions in the novel genre leading to Victorian novels,
like Pride and Prejudice published almost one hundred years later (1813) in terms of style,
themes and concerns,
Augustan writers, before Daniel Defoe, were very protective of the status quo and
their novels were philosophical and religious, based upon a myth of the eternal fitness of things.
By contrast, Defoe stood for revolutionary change, economic individualism, social mobility,
trade, and freedom of consciousness. For Swift, Defoe was ‗the fellow who was pilloried; I have
forgotten his name‘. He represented at once a social literary and intellectual challenge to the
Augustan world, and the Augustans reacted to him accordingly.
In Robinson Crusoe, Defoe deals with major points of Western civilisation like trade, mercantile
capitalism since at that time, a great attempt was made to dominate other continents, spread
culture, beliefs, like, for example, when Robinson tries to convert Friday into Christianity, as he
considers him a savage. In the eighteenth century, Britain economically depended on slave trade,
which was abolished on the early 1800s. Therefore, Daniel Defoe was familiar with this practice,
even though he did not active criticise it. There is consequently, no surprise that, Robinson treats
Friday as his slave.
However, Crusoe was able to recognise Friday's humanity, though he does not see his slavery as
a contradiction. Robinson Crusoe was written within a context of a European colonialism well
established around the globe.
Next, material wealth is a sign of prestige and power in Robinson's mind. For instance, he often
lists his belongings, like the amount of land ploughed. His provisions and he stores the coins
found on various wrecks. On top of that, he calls his ‗base‘, his ‗castle‘, and eventually considers
himself a ‗King‘. Therefore, material power is an important element as well as religion and faith
in the novel. Robinson rejects his father's advice and religious teachings at the beginning of the
novel, in order to travel and have some adventure and wealth. Although, his shipwreck can be
considered as a moral punishment and his disobedience as a sin, the protagonist did accumulate
wealth and did survive at the end of the novel. Thus, the fact that he was punished can be argued
and discussed. Robinson's opinion about religion is very clear.
He is a semi-puritan figure and tries to spread his convictions on the island to convert into
Christianity. Friday, who is very rational. The hero simply refuses Friday's own beliefs, thinking
that his religion is the best one. This thought may be due to the fact that British people believed
that they had a right and a duty to transmit their knowledge, culture and Skilton continues and
says that Robinson Crusoe was written in the first-person singular. As a consequence, we
constantly have Robinson's point of view and opinion about the events happening. We have to
wonder whether the protagonist, through which the story is described, may be reliable or not, and
if we can trust him. If we had Friday's point of view instead, it is clear that we would have a
complete different opinion about Robinson.

5.3 Jonathan Swift:

Jonathan Swift, (born Nov. 30, 1667, Dublin, died Oct. 19, 1745, Dublin), Irish
author, the foremost prose satirist in English. He was a student at Dublin‘s Trinity College

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during the anti-Catholic Revolution of 1688 in England. Irish Catholic reaction in Dublin led
Swift, a Protestant, to seek security in England, where he spent various intervals before 1714. He
was ordained an Anglican priest in 1695. His first major work was A Tale of a Tub (1704),
comprises three satiric sketches on religion and learning; he also became known for religious and
political essays and impish pamphlets written under the name ―Isaac Bickerstaff‖. Reluctantly
setting aside his loyalty to the Whigs, in 1710 he became the leading writer for the Tories
because of their support for the established church. Journal to Stella (written 1710–13) consists
of letters recording his reactions to the changing world. As a reward for writing and editing Tory
publications, in 1713 he was awarded the deanery of St. Patrick‘s Cathedral, Dublin.
Between the years 1696-99, Swift wrote two major works: Tale of a Tub, defending
the middle position of the Anglican and Lutheran churches, and Battle of the Books, taking the
part of the Ancients against the Moderns. In The Mechanical Operation of the Spirit (1704),
Swift continues his satiric attack on both questionable religious views and questionable
knowledge acquisition, particularly scientific knowledge. The Journal to Stella (1710-1713), a
series of letters written by Swift to Esther Johnson and Rebecca Dingley, includes the poem "The
Windsor Prophecy. Swift is also recognized as a defender of Ireland. In A Modest Proposal
(1729), a reaction to English commercial practices that negatively impacted Ireland, Swift wrote
one of the greatest works of sustained irony in English or any other language. 3 Instead of
maintaining that English laws prevent the Irish from manufacturing anything to sell, he argues
that the only items of commerce that the English don't restrict are Irish babies and reasons that
the Irish would be better off as cattle to be butchered than as a colony to be starved.

Jonathan Swift Books:

Following are the books of Jonathan Swift;
 Gulliver‘s Travels.
 Major Works.
 A Modest Proposal.
 A Tale of Tub .

5.4 Fanny Burney:

Frances Burney was born on June 13, 1752, in King's Lynn, Norfolk. She was
the daughter of Charles Burney (1726-1814) and his first wife, Esther Sleepe (c.1725-1762).
From the time young Fanny learned her alphabet, she was a writer, composing odes, plays,
songs, farces, and poems at an early age. She burned them all at age 15, most likely under the
influence of her stepmother, who didn't think it appropriate for women to write. But Frances
Burney's urge to write could not be stifled. At age 16, she began the diary that would chronicle
personal and public events from the early reign of George III to the dawn of the Victorian age.
Fanny Burney Working:
Frances knew luminaries through her father and her early diaries chronicle evenings spent in this
circle at home. In 1778, her first novel Evelina was published anonymously. It was written in
secret and in a disguised hand because publishers were familiar with her handwriting through her
work as a copyist for her father. With Evelina, Frances Burney created a new school of fiction in
English one in which women in society were portrayed in realistic, contemporary circumstances.
The "comedy of manners" genre in which she worked paved the way for Jane Austen, Maria
Edgeworth, and other 19th-century writers. Evelina's mix of social comedy, realism and wit

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made it an instant success and led London society to speculate on the identity of the writer who
was universally assumed to be a man.

Fanny Burney Books:

Following are the books of Fanny Burney;
 Evelina .
 Cecilia .
 Camilla .
 The Witlings .
 The Diary of Fanny Burney.

5.5 Samuel Richardson:

Samuel Richardson, (born Aug. 19, 1689, Mack worth near Derby, Derbyshire,
died July 4, 1761, Parson‘s Green, near London) English novelist. His major novels were the
epistolary novel Pamela (1740), about a servant who avoids seduction. Work continued to
improve and Richardson printed the Daily Journal between 1736 and 1737 and the Daily
Gazetteer in 1738.
During his time printing the Daily Journal, he was also a printer to the "Society for
the Encouragement of Learning", a group that tried to help authors 4 become independent from
publishers but collapsed soon after. In December 1738, Richardson's printing business was
successful enough to allow him to lease a house in Fulham. This house which would be
Richardson's residence from 1739 to 1754 was later named "The Grange" in 1836. In 1739,
Richardson was asked by his friends Charles Rivington and John Osborn to write "a little volume
of Letters in a common style on such subjects as might be of use to those country readers who
were unable to indite for themselves".
While writing this volume Richardson was inspired to write his first novel.
Richardson made the transition from master printer to novelist on 6 November 1740 with the
publication of Pamela or Virtue Rewarded. Pamela was sometimes regarded as "the first novel in
English" or the first modern novel. Richardson explained the origins of the work. In the progress
of writing two or three letters to instruct handsome girls, who were obliged to go out to service
how to avoid the snares that might be laid against their virtue, and hence sprung Pamela Little
did I think at first of making one much less two volumes of it. I thought the story, if written in an
easy and natural manner suitably to the simplicity of it might possibly introduce a new species of
writing that might possibly turn young people into a course of reading different from the pomp
and parade of romance-writing and dismissing the improbable and marvelous. After Richardson
started the work on 10 November 1739 his wife and her friends became so interested in the story
that he finished it on 10 January 1740. Pamela Andrews the heroine of Pamela, represented
"Richardson's insistence upon well-defined feminine roles" and was part of a common fear held
during the 18th century that women were "too bold". In particular her "zeal for housewifery" was
included as a proper role of women in society.
Although Pamela and the title heroine were popular and gave a proper model for how
women should act, they inspired "a storm of anti-Pamelas" because the character "perfectly
played her part". Later that year Richardson printed Rivington and Osborn's book which inspired
Pamela under the title of Letters written to and for particular Friends on the most important
Occasions. The book contained many anecdotes and lessons on how to live .

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 06 Conclusion

Novel has become the most important part of English literature in a certain
circumstances that we see as we pass from the enlightenment clarity of the novel it becomes
more and more eye catching and important. The 18th century is the century in which the novel
become rises, due to the famous work of the novelists, like Jane Austen, Daniel Dafoe, Samuel
Richerdson. Daniel Dafoe write a novel which is known as “Robisnson Crusoe” is one of the
best novel which is also the cause of the Rise of novel. The development of the novel was
encouraged by innovations in printing. Henry James remarks. The only reason for the existence
of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life.