2020-06-10
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The social moralizing novel was born in this period. It was represented by the works of such writers as Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Tobias Smollett. Henry Fielding' s works were the summit of the English Enlightenment prose. He created a picture of the 18th century. He also introduced the main requirements that the novel should meet: to imitate life, to show the variety of human nature, to expose the roots and causes of man's shortcomings and to indicate the ways of overcoming them.
Late Enlightenment (Sentimentalism) (1750-1780)
The writers of this period expressed the democratic bourgeois tendencies of their time. They also tried to find a way out of the difficulties of the existing order. But they stand feelings above the force of intellect. The principal representatives of sentimentalism were Oliver Coldsmith, Lawrence Sterne and in drama – Richard Sheridan.
Daniel Defoе (1660-1731)
Daniel Defoe is rightly considered the father of the English and the European novel.
Daniel Defoe's life was complicated and adventurous. He was the son of London butcher. He traveled in Spain, Germany, France and Italy on business. Though his travels were few they, however, gave him, a man of rich imagination, material for his future novels. He took an active part in the political life of Britain (attacks against the Church).
His first literary works were satirical poems dealing with the urgent problem of the time.
His first and most popular novel The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe was written in 1719. It was followed by other novels of advеnture.
The popularity of the novel was due to the fact that Robinson Cruse was a typical nature. He was the first character of a bourgeois ever created in world literature. Through him Defoe asserted the superiority of the new class over the idle aristocracy.
He was typical in his manner of thought, in his thriftiness. He saved the money he found in the wrecked ship, although he understood that it could hardly be of any use to him on the island.
Crusoe was religious and any work he started, he began with a prayer just as any puritan would.
Defoe wrote his novels in the form of memories, which made them look like stories about real people. The detailed descriptions were just interesting too. Defoe's books were written in the living tongue of the epoch. He wanted to be understanding by the readers. He wanted to improve morals of people. The novel Robinson Crusоe praised the creative labour of man, his victory over nature.
The influence of his work on the literary process was great.
