Well, Defoe's works were among the first in English literature to have a continuous narrative structure that followed the experiences of a single protagonist over an extended period. Take 'Robinson Crusoe' for example. It was not just a simple adventure story. Defoe delved deep into Crusoe's thoughts, feelings, and his daily struggles on the island. This kind of in - depth exploration of a character's inner world was quite novel at that time. Also, his use of everyday language made the stories more relatable to the general public. All these aspects contributed to his title as the father of the English novel.
One major contribution is his creation of complex characters. In his novels, characters are not one - dimensional. For instance, Moll Flanders has a complex personality with both good and bad traits.
Daniel Defoe made significant contributions to the English novel. His most famous work, 'Robinson Crusoe', is often considered one of the first English novels. It introduced the concept of a detailed, fictional narrative about an individual's experiences. This influenced the development of the novel as a genre, showing that a long - form fictional story about an ordinary person could be engaging and popular.
Well, there are several reasons. First, Defoe's novels had a strong sense of realism. He paid great attention to details, making the stories seem real. Second, his stories were centered around an individual's experiences, like in 'Robinson Crusoe' where we follow Crusoe's entire journey. Third, he wrote in a language that was easy to understand for the common people. This combination of elements made his works stand out and led to him being considered the founder of the English novel.
Was the father of the English novel Defoe or Henry Fielding?
Therefore, it was difficult for the two of them to simply answer who was the "father of the British novel."
Defoe was a famous British novelist and explorer in the 19th century. His representative works included Madam Bovary and The Catcher in the Rye. His works played an important role in criticizing and reflecting the 19th century British society with humor, irony and dystopia as the theme.
Henry Fielding was also a famous British novelist in the 19th century. His representative works included Oliver Twist and Jane Eyre. His works were regarded as one of the pioneers of modern British novels by describing the bottom of society and exposing the injustice of society at that time.
Although Defoe and Henry Fielding both had an important influence on the development of British novels, their styles and subjects were different, so it was impossible to simply put them into the same category. It could be said that the development of English novels was a long-term process.
In terms of plot structure, Defoe's contribution was significant. His plots were often centered around a single character's journey. In 'Robinson Crusoe', the whole plot revolves around Crusoe's adventures. He starts from his departure on a ship, then his shipwreck, and his long stay on the island. The way he structures the plot with a clear beginning, middle, and end, where the character faces various challenges and overcomes them, influenced the way future novelists constructed their plots.
Daniel Defoe's novels were very influential. For example, 'Robinson Crusoe' was one of the first novels in English literature in the modern sense. It set a pattern for adventure stories.