1. 10 TYPES OF NOVELS

2. 1. BILDUNGSROMAN Coming of Age / Rite of Passage / Youth to Adulthood Emotional loss  Journey: Difficulty  Maturity Sensitive person searching for answers Psychological and moral growth; self-actualization; end = greater understanding of the world Individual vs. Society Examples: Tom Sawyer, Jane Eyre, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, Huck Finn, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird

3. 2. DYSTOPIAN NOVEL Quest for Utopian / Ideal society  ends up opposite Exposure of corrupt / flawed society; conditioning, control, oppression from authority (under guise of “improvement”) Often a warning against some modern trend Individual vs. Society Perverted ideas of justice, freedom, happiness Social and political critique / satire Usually: Science-Fiction or Speculative Fiction Examples: Gulliver’s Travels, Brave New World, The Giver, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm

4. 3. EPISTOLARY NOVEL Series of letters or documents (epistola= Latin for ‘letter’) Form adds realism; more personal narration 3 types: monologic (letters of only one character); dialogic (letters of 2 characters); polylogic (3 or more letter-writing characters) Examples: Frankenstein, Dracula, The Color Purple

5. 4. GOTHIC NOVEL Gothic Revival Architecture (rejection of clarity and rationalism of neoclassical style of Enlightened Establishment; decay and collapse of human creations) Extreme emotion, thrills of fearfulness, inherent awe of sublime Dark, mysterious, fantastic setting Psychological terror; supernatural elements; death; decay; madness; secrets; hereditary curses; superstition; melodrama; horror and romance; nature / strong nature imagery Examples: Frankenstein (Romantic Gothic, 1818); Dracula (Victorian Gothic, 1897)

6. 5. HISTORICAL NOVEL Fictitious narrative immersed in true historical events; characters interact closely with significant historical era Shows influence of historical figures and consequences of historical movements; characters’ personal lives in conjunction with important historical events / era Close-up, personal view of history’s impact on the individual Examples: A Tale of Two Cities, Grapes of Wrath

7. 6. NOVELLA Prose fiction longer than short story, but shorter than novel (usually 50-100 pgs.) Focuses on narrowly circumscribed occurrence, situation, conflict, or adventure Often emphasizes suspense and surprise Often includes psychological metaphor Examples: The Metamorphosis, Heart of Darkness, Old Man and the Sea

8. 7. NOVEL OF MANNERS Behavior, language, customs, values particular to a specific class of people in a specific social / historical context Individual aspirations / desires vs. accepted social codes of behavior & lifestyle of the time, place, culture Vital relationship between manners, social etiquette, and “character”; moral significance of behavior Different degrees as to how characters uphold the standard level of social norms usually dominates the plot Examples: Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Little Women

9. 8. PICARESQUE NOVEL Episodic string of adventures of wandering, traveling picaro Picaro = Spanish for ‘rogue’ or ‘rascal’; low social status; carefree, but engaging / entertaining character, often full of trickery and charm Satirical; comical; sometimes crude humor Depicts, in realistic & humorous detail, journey of roguish ‘hero’ who lives by his wits in a corrupt society; usually escapes danger by skin of his teeth; contrasts ideal, courageous hero Often shows critique of classism, racism, sexism, etc. Examples: Candide, Huck Finn, Confederacy of Dunces

10. 9. SOCIAL NOVEL “Sociological” or “Problem” Novel Concerned with effect of societal institutions and social conditions on humanity; exposes or advocates need for some kind of social or political change Deals with political and economic conditions and everyday hardships during the period in which the work is set Examples: The Grapes of Wrath, Oliver Twist, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

11. 10. UTOPIAN NOVEL Utopia = Greek for “no place” or “good place” Originates from Sir Thomas More, UTOPIA (1516) Vision of ideal world / perfect society free from ‘typical’ problems Ambiguous and ironic projection of this “ideal” state Most novels of this type combine utopian and dystopian themes (satire of attempt to create societal perfection; social & political criticism; exposure of authoritative flaws; inevitability of human inequalities)