Evolution of Modern Novel from Classical Novel

Outline

1.Introduction to Literature and Novel
2.Conventional novel– characteristics
3. Examples
4.Modern Novels—characteristics
5.Examples
6.Conclusion and Final Remarks

Introduction to Literature and Novel

Literature is polymorphous yet monofunctional. According to Culler (2007), “literature is the vehicle of ideology and is an instrument for its undoing.” Literature, which takes the form of drama, novel, poetry, etc., coaxes readers to accept contemporary situations but also to question them. Literature reveals that nothing should be taken for granted; everything should be challenged, questioned, and analyzed.

Perhaps, the most effective vehicle for this is the novel. “Novels have long been credited with making people dissatisfied with the lives they inherit and eager for something new – whether life in big cities or romance or revolution” (Culler, 2007). Novels, no matter the genre, have a single purpose—to either seduce its audience into accepting the cruelty and injustice afflicted upon them or to rebel and take action; to fight for their freedom, opinions and values.

In the following paragraphs, we discuss two categories of novels—conventional and Modern, each which sprung up from their respective titular movements. We also debate on the similarities and differences between the two kinds.

Conventional Novels

A question that comes to mind is “what is conventional literature?” Broadly speaking, it is any literary work that was written before the Modern Era. Conventional novels have no proper definition. Typically, these novels are identified on the basis of their underlying characteristics and features. The themes and characters are reminiscent of their periods and circumstances. Conventional novels can include any literary prose fictional work that was produced at any point in time before Modernism sprung up. This is because Modernism drastically changed the way literature was written and conveyed.

Characteristics of a Conventional Novel

Conventional novels share a tendency to glue themselves to a strict rule-book. In other words, the form and genre is set and writers must write according to it. This means that if a certain genre is written in a certain way, the writer must write his or her literary accomplishment on the same grounds or else it would not be accepted. Improvisation or creating your own style was generally unheard of before Modern Era. Similarly, characters were archetypal. Therefore, each character present in conventional novels met the criteria of at least one of twelve different personas. Such characters are very simple with the main protagonist being the hero and another evil force which opposes him. Characters are easily identifiable because their traits are easily recognizable as good or bad.

Plots in conventional novels were also relatively simple to the plots in modern novels. Before, oral tradition was the method of conveyance for earlier literature. Non-complex plots could be easily retold. The resolution of the plot usually indicated an inclination towards a virtuous deed or abstinence from moral and social ills. Therefore, conventional novels tended to include a strict adherence to the genre and form guidelines, easily recognizable characters and “conventional plot structure consisting of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement” (Emmerich, n.d.).

Finally, these novels focused on proper comeuppance. Just as Oscar Wilde put it, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.” In all genres of conventional literature, the good were rewarded and evil was punished. It was fair and just. This characteristic does not seem to echo in the novels of Modern Era.

Examples of Conventional Novels

Many novels follow the aforementioned defining traits. An excellent example would be Jane Austen’s Emma. If one looks closely, Emma is a novel written during the Victorian Era and resounds the elements required for a novel to be considered traditional or conventional. It has a linear plot structure with clearly distinctive exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and denouncement. The resolution is a happy ending with three joyful marriages and the reconciliation of male and female protagonists. Another point readers might notice is that the characters are quite simple and act according to their social position, except Emma but she is remains consistent throughout the novel. The novel also contains a message to the audience about love, marriage and social evils.

Modern Novels

On the other hand, modern novels are completely different. It is relatively difficult to classify modern literature in separate genres. Unlike traditional literature which can be easily differentiated as sonnet, epic, elegy, fantasy, etc. because of the writing style, modern literature makes use of the writer’s imagination and personalized writing that it becomes perplexing to discern between fantasy, romance, epic, elegy, comedy, etc. More often than not, if a Modern writer has dubbed their work as a specific genre, many textual components will defy it. Consequently, it is almost impossible to categorize modern literature into genres.

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Characteristics of Modern Novel

Similarly, the characters in modern novels defy traditional social and cultural roles. In modern novels, we see men take on more feminine roles and women taking on more masculine roles. The characters are more complex, with complicated multi-faceted personalities and conflicts. Unlike traditional literature which typically features a hero-like character as the main protagonist, modern novels feature characters who are struggling to decide what is right and wrong. They make mistakes and even commit sins. Likewise, the plots are not linear. There are many sub-plots and characters engage with a multitude of adversaries and conflicts throughout the story.

Modern novels have a particular tendency to “draw attention to its own artificiality” (Cavendish-Jones, n.d.). This purposes that modern novels remind the reader, directly and indirectly, that they are reading a story and not undergoing an actual experience. Sometimes, the narrator can call out the reader specifically or the point of view keeps changing which makes the reader understand that they are reading a story.

Finally, modern novels are less didactic. They are written “to be realistic, without making moral judgments about what they ought to have done” (Cavendish-Jones, n.d.). As realism became popular around the same time, modern works portray immoral characters as getting away with their bad deeds. They are not captured nor punished. The good and virtuous characters suffer for their naivety and innocence. This was to show the true colors of society; the world is not fair and modern novels depict just that. Just as Bill gates quoted “Life is not fair, get used to it.”

Examples

Modern writers like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, T.S Eliot, E.M. Forester, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc. followed the unconventional standards of writing. The Sun Also Rises is the best example of a Modern masterpiece. Written by Ernest Hemingway, it illustrates the story the “Lost Generation”. According to modern prerequisites for characters, both Jake and Lady Brett Ashley defy their traditional gender roles. Jake has many emasculating qualities (the biggest of all his war injury) while Brett has short hair and acts like a guy—unfeeling, authoritative and promiscuous. There is also no distinctive plot. Instead, it feels like there are many conflicts and struggles that every character has to face.

Even the ending is not happy. Even though Jake is an overall good person, he is still unable to achieve his goal while the lust-driven Brett goes from one man to the next without looking back. Various subplots muddle the reader’s mind and readers focus on the characters instead of the plot. The novel is very realistic as such things happen in real life as well.

 

Conclusion

We have described the differences between conventional and modern novels. Conventional novels tend to be simpler in terms of plot and characters. They also follow a particular writing style that makes it easier to discern what genre it belongs to. Finally, the novels have a didactic goal and show evil getting its comeuppance. Modern novels are harder to categorize into genres due to their innovation styles. The characters and plots are complex. Instead of a moral purpose, the writer can talk about anything. For the sake of realistic literature, modern novels portray the injustice of the world.

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