Question

The ‘Four Wheels of the English Novel’ are:

• A. Swift, Pope, Johnson, Addison
• B. Defoe, Fielding, Austen, Brontë
• C. Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, Sterne
• D. Eliot, Dickens, Hardy, Joyce

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, Sterne

The 'Four Wheels of the English Novel'

• The term 'Four Wheels of the English Novel' refers to four pioneering novelists whose collective works laid the foundational framework for the modern English novel in the 18th century.
• These authors, namely Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, Tobias Smollett, and Laurence Sterne, introduced diverse styles, themes, and narrative techniques that shaped the genre's development.
• Their contributions are considered fundamental because they established different paths and possibilities for the novel as a literary form, moving it beyond earlier episodic narratives.

Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)

• Known as a printer by trade, Richardson is often credited with writing what many consider the first modern English novel.
• He is famous for popularizing the epistolary novel, a narrative conveyed through letters written by one or more characters.
• His works focus on psychological depth, moral dilemmas, and the domestic lives of the rising middle class.
• Key Works for Exams:
  • Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded (1740): Often cited as the first English novel, it explores a servant girl's virtue and resistance against her master's advances.
  • Clarissa; or the History of a Young Lady (1748): Considered his masterpiece, a tragic and psychologically intense novel dealing with seduction and moral conflict.
  • Sir Charles Grandison (1753): His only novel with a male protagonist, attempting to portray an ideal gentleman.

Henry Fielding (1707–1754)

• Initially a playwright, Fielding turned to novel writing as a rival to Richardson. He often parodied Richardson's sentimentality.
• He is known for his satirical, realistic, and often humorous novels, embracing a broader social canvas.
• Fielding's novels are characterized by their elaborate plots, omniscient narration, and a strong moralizing, yet witty, authorial voice.
• Key Works for Exams:
  • An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews (1741): A satirical parody of Richardson's Pamela.
  • The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews (1742): Began as a parody of Pamela (Joseph is Pamela's brother) but evolved into a significant novel in its own right, marking a shift towards comic realism and the picaresque tradition.
  • The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749): Considered his greatest work and a masterpiece of English literature, often described as a 'comic epic in prose'. It's a sprawling picaresque novel exploring social manners and human nature.

Tobias Smollett (1721–1771)

• A Scottish physician and novelist, Smollett contributed significantly to the picaresque tradition in English literature.
• His novels are known for their fast-paced adventures, often featuring rough and tumble heroes and a vivid, sometimes grotesque, depiction of society.
• Smollett's works are characterized by their strong narrative drive, robust humor, and often biting social satire.
• Key Works for Exams:
  • The Adventures of Roderick Random (1748): A picaresque novel following the misadventures of its protagonist.
  • The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1751): Another prominent picaresque novel, featuring a more malicious protagonist than Roderick Random.
  • The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771): His last and perhaps most celebrated novel, also an epistolary novel like Richardson's, but utilizing multiple perspectives through different letter writers, offering diverse views of Britain.

Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)

• Sterne stands out for his experimental and highly individualistic approach to the novel.
• He challenged conventional narrative structures, focusing on subjective experience, digression, and the process of writing itself.
• His works are precursors to techniques like stream of consciousness and metafiction, influencing modernism.
• Key Works for Exams:
  • The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759–1767): A highly unconventional and experimental novel, famous for its digressions, typographical eccentricities, non-linear narrative, and philosophical humor. It constantly breaks the fourth wall.
  • A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768): A travel narrative that emphasizes subjective feelings and impressions rather than external events, further showcasing his unique style.