Elements of the Novel

What is a novel: a fictional narrative told that is a representation of life; the story is true in the sense that it gives a sincere, well observed, intellectual portrayal human life. It has verisimilitude—or a likeness to truth. We know that the story is not true, but we are made to believe that it is true: The Metamorphosis. Even science fiction and fantasy literature have that element of truth that the reader believes for the moment that the narrative is true and the characters are real, and the fictional locations exist.

Brief History:

1678-1684: John Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress

1719: Defoe: Robinson Crusoe

1722: Moll Flanders

1726: Jonathan Swift: Gulliver’s Travels

1749: Henry Fielding: Tom Jones considered the first English novel or its sophisticated plot and its realistic portrayal of English life

Elements of the Novel:

Plot: gives the narrative structure and shape, the bones of the story

Selected events arranged in time. We keep reading because of the plot to see what will happen next

Has causality—one thing leads to the next which leads to the next—another reason why we keep reading to see why things happen

Contains motives, consequences, and relationships

Success depends on brilliantly the author weaves these elements together

Does the author spin a good tale that believable, interesting, fun, exciting, challenging, engages the reader in the story

Plot has a shaped action:

Rising Action: elements of the story that lead to or develop the conflict

Complications or Conflict: the conflict or dilemma in the story that must be resolved

Climax: (resolution of conflict), falling action, leads to the end of the story

Falling Action: action that takes place after the conflict has been resolved. Sometimes the story just ends

Character: People in the story; a good and a credible character:

Has natural frailties along with the qualities that makes him or her a good person, there may be a fatal flaw: bad judgment, excessive pride; likewise a mean character will have some glimmer of goodness or the author will provide at least a clue as to why the character is so bad or behaves in such a mean manner

Motivation: why a character does what he or she does. Does the author give adequate reasoning for why the character acts the way he or she does. In the Horse Whisper in the novel the main male character does something in the end for which there is no reason that leaves the ending of the story unsatisfying

Character types:

Dynamic character: character changes or grows during the course of the story, either for the good or bad, change permanent, there should be adequate reason for the change

Flat character: has only 1 or two dominant characteristics, does not change, may be a foil for the main character

Foil: the character who enhances the protagonist by being the opposite or exhibits contrasting behavior

Round Character: well developed or fully developed character; author takes time to create a well-rounded character who may also be a dynamic character who shows growth or change during the story.

Static Character: does not change throughout the story despite the events

Stock Character: easily recognized because this type of character appears to be the same in fiction, perhaps even a stereotype, a flat character, possible does not contribute to the plot of the story

Setting: Where the story takes place. Sometimes plot depends heavily on setting, other ties the tale remains the same or has a timeless quality—Romeo and Juliet; Time: time and place in history, present to past. Plot is determined by the time frame and the location

Theme: the lesson or the meaning of the story; is the story allegorical, metamorphic, what do we learn about human nature or ourselves as we read the story?

Point of View: From what point of view is the story told:

First person: told from the view point of an observer who has first person experience or told from the view point of one of the main characters. Written in first person “I”

Third Person: the omniscient narrator who knows all there is to know about each character. Often the success of the story depends on this narrator. Is the narrator a reliable one?