János Barcsák, Márta Pellérdi

English literature 1660-1900


Narrative technique

Defoe adopts a narrative technique that relies mainly on detailed descriptions of many scenes and incidents. Crusoe’s narrative of his survival is a detailed account of the slightest particulars. It is not only like a journal or memoir intended for the instruction of the public about an ordinary man’s individual experience, but the style often resembles a meticulous bookkeeper’s method of listing, cataloguing items, keeping track of the days, months and years. Structurally, however, the narrative is unified and does not just present a series of loose tales or incidents without a unified plot. There are no dialogues, however. A simple descriptive narrative technique is appropriate for the passages that relate Crusoe’s solitary adventures on the island (there is no one to talk to but himself), but when characters do make their appearance their speeches are quoted indirectly. This is one of the weaknesses of the narrative technique. But we must not forget that Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders, both reflect the novel at an early stage of development. The power of these novels lies in the incidents, the adventures that they narrate, and the semblance of reality they create.

English literature 1660-1900

Tartalomjegyzék


Kiadó: Akadémiai Kiadó

Online megjelenés éve: 2018

ISBN: 978 963 454 261 2

A history of the English literature is presented here, with a scope on the years 1660 to 1900. The book is written in three main parts; beginning with the Restoration Period of the 17th century, followed by the first, and second halves of the 18th century. Thus, a sequential development of literary genres is presented, with explorations of the key figures and texts which drove these. The book also synthesises the historical, cultural and sociological background which gave rise to this literature, and allows the reader to effectively contextualise these.

Hivatkozás: https://mersz.hu/barcsak-pellerdi-english-literature-1660-1900//

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