1. Daniel Defoe Raffaele Nardella http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/D/Defoe.html

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 Raffaele Nardella http://www.bpears.org.uk/Misc/Gateshead_Plaques/

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) Raffaele Nardella

4. Characterisation Raffaele Nardella 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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoe

5. Robinson Crusoe – The Plot Raffaele Nardella http://www.pierre-marteau.com/library/e-1719-0027.html 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 Raffaele Nardella http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=68626&rendTypeId=4

7. Robinson Crusoe – The Island Setting  Island  To prove his qualities Primitive Empire  Prototype of English coloniser dominating Nature Raffaele Nardella http://images.politico.com/global/robinson_crusoe.jpg

8. Robinson Crusoe – Individual and society Raffaele Nardella 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 Raffaele Nardella http://hugereviews.com/images/Movies/castaway1.gif Objective approach  Details Description on primary qualities: Solidity Extension Number Language  Simple, Concrete Narration  1st-person Cast Away (2000)