1. Daniel Defoe

2. An eventful life (1660-1731) Family of Dissenters
Modern languages, economics, geography
Financial problems
Whig papers
The Review Famous for political essays and pamphlets
Prison  Pillory, a triumph
Secret Agent
Novels
Robinson Crusoe 1719
Captain Singleton 1720
Moll Flanders 1722
Colonel Jack 1722
Roxana1724
Comfortable standard of life

3. Structure of the novels
Fictional autobiographies (details and memories) Preface (stress on authenticity - journal) Series of episodes and adventures (single hero) Lack of coherent plot (large production) Method of retrospective 1st-person narration characterisation Same point of view (author-main character)

4. Characterisation Characters from inside and actions
Physical (Crusoe) or social (Flanders) isolation in struggle
Father of English novel, representative of new social class
Original narrative technique  realistic novel

5. Robinson Crusoe – The Plot
Main character: Robinson Kreutznaer
Leaving home at 19 to travel and to make fortune
First Voyage to Guinea
Second Voyage to Brazil
pirates
rescue
owner of plantation
Third Voyage to Africa
slaves
shipwreck
28 years on a desert island
rebuilding his society
writing a diary
cannibals
Friday
Back to England
Rich thanks to the plantation

6. Robinson Crusoe – The new middle class hero
Hero  middle class (middle state) Classical hero of travel literature restlessness search for identity Act of transgression  Separation  Isolation

7. Robinson Crusoe – The Island
Setting  Island  To prove his qualities
Primitive Empire  Prototype of English coloniser dominating Nature

8. Robinson Crusoe – Individual and society
Relationship between private and public spheres
Exaltation of English society
Mobility Material Productiveness Individualism
Modification of Reality through work in the light of God’s will
Pragmatic and Individualistic Outlook  Rational Method:
Observation
Listing solutions
Pros and cons
Choosing the best

9. Robinson Crusoe – The Style
Objective approach  Details
Description on primary qualities:
Solidity
Extension
Number
Language  Simple, Concrete
Narration  1st-person
Cast Away (2000) 9