Novel: Definitions and Characteristics
B. A. I Sem. II Unit No. 3 Novel: Definitions and Characteristics I. Novel: Definitions A novel is a long, fictional narrative written in prose, which describes characters, events, and settings in a structured and imaginative way. Different literary critics and writers have defined the novel in various ways. Definitions of Novel by Critics and Writers E.M. Forster – “A novel is a fiction in prose of a certain extent.” Walter Allen – “The novel is a narrative of considerable length in which characters and actions represent real life in a plot that is of interest.” M.H. Abrams – “A novel is an extended fictional prose narrative, usually lengthy and complex, dealing imaginatively with human experience through a connected sequence of events involving a group of characters.” Dr. Johnson – “A novel is a small tale, generally of fictitious nature.” Richardson – “A novel is a large, complex, and continuous story tha...