These novels also started to explore social issues more deeply. They sometimes criticized the social inequality and the vices of the upper class. Writers used their works to comment on things like the marriage system and the gap between the rich and the poor.
They often feature elaborate courtship. The heroes and heroines are typically from different social classes, which adds to the drama. For example, in some novels, a nobleman might fall in love with a commoner girl. The settings are usually grand, like large estates or bustling cities of the eighteenth century.
Well, eighteenth - century novels typically had a certain style of language. It was more formal compared to modern novels but still accessible. The settings were often based on real - life locations of the time. They might be in big cities like London or in the English countryside. These novels also frequently dealt with themes of love, marriage, and family, but in the context of the social and cultural norms of the eighteenth century.
Well, eighteenth - century fiction often had a moral or didactic purpose. Writers used their stories to teach lessons about virtue, vice, and proper behavior. For example, Samuel Richardson's 'Pamela' was partly about a young woman's moral struggle. Also, the language was becoming more refined and accessible to a wider range of readers.
One characteristic is the exploration of new scientific ideas in a fictional context. For example, early ideas about space travel were often explored. Writers would imagine what it might be like to journey to the moon or other planets, which was quite revolutionary at that time as real - world space exploration was far in the future. Another aspect was the use of fictional technology to comment on society. It could be a device that made people more equal or unequal, showing the concerns and hopes of the society regarding technological progress.
The eighteenth - century British novel was marked by a variety of things. There was a growing sense of realism. Authors like Henry Fielding in 'Tom Jones' presented a vivid picture of English country life and the follies and virtues of the people. Satire was also a key element. Writers used humor and exaggeration to criticize the society of the time, be it the political system or the manners of the upper classes. The language used was evolving, becoming more accessible and closer to the spoken language of the day.
Daniel Defoe was another famous one. 'Robinson Crusoe' is his most famous work. It was not only an adventure story but also a study of human nature and survival in a harsh environment.
Some of the best eighteenth - century novels include 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift. It's a satirical work that takes the reader on adventures with Lemuel Gulliver, exploring different societies and human nature through his encounters. Another great one is 'Tom Jones' by Henry Fielding, which is known for its vivid characters and complex plot that follows the life and loves of the titular character.
At the end of the 18th century, there was a trend of thought in English literature called the "Victoria". This style emphasized the equality and independence of female characters and opposed the feudal remnants and sexism of the society at that time. The representative works of the Victoria included Pride and Predict and Jane Eyre. The protagonists of these works often showed the intelligence and independence of women, making an important contribution to the development of female literature at that time. In addition, the Victoria 'style also reflected the progress of society at that time, as well as the pursuit of science, technology, culture and other aspects of knowledge.
They often had complex plots. For example, in 'Tom Jones' by Henry Fielding, there are multiple storylines intertwined. The characters were well - developed, representing different social classes. Also, moral lessons were commonly embedded within the stories.
The main literary phenomena of 18th-century English literature include: 1 The works of William shakespeare were widely spread and became one of the most outstanding writers of the time. Jane Austen's novels Pride and Predict and The Legend of Stintin became the representative works of British literature at that time. The widespread spread of dystopian novels such as George Orwell's 1984 had a profound impact on the political and social reality of the time. Thomas Hardy's novel,"The D'Urbervilles" and other works were popular with readers. The emergence of these phenomena was mainly due to the changes and progress of British society at that time, as well as the prosperity and multiculturalism of culture. During this period, English literature not only showed but also reflected the political, economic and cultural conditions of the society at that time, but also left a profound influence on later works.