An Essay on 18th Century Novel: Key Features and Influential Works

The 10 most influential novels of the 20th century include: 1 The Great Gatsby (United States) Scott Itzgerald's story of the luxurious life and social class division of the upper class in the 1920s was regarded as a classic of modern literature. War and Peace was written by Tolstoy, Russia. It tells the story of war and peace during the Russian Revolution in the early 19th century and is considered one of the masterpieces in the history of world literature. 3 The Story of The Stone was a classic work of Chinese classical literature that told the stories of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and others in the Qing Dynasty. One Hundred Years of Solitude was a novel by Colombia Garcia Márquez, which told the story of a family of seven generations and was regarded as a classic of modern literature. Jane Eyre was a novel written by Bronte, England. It told The story of Jane Eyre, a British woman. It was regarded as a classic work of 19th century English literature. The Catcher in The Rye was a novel by D. Salinger of the United States. It told the story of a teenager, Holden Caulfield, and was regarded as a classic work of modern literature. 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-our) was a dystopian novel by Orwell of the United Kingdom. It told the story of a dictatorial country and was regarded as a classic of modern literature. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a magical novel series by K Rowling in the United Kingdom. It tells the story of Harry Potter and is regarded as a classic of modern literature. 9 The Catcher in the Rye

A very important 20th - century history novel is 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. It's set in the American South during the 1930s. This novel tackles issues of racial inequality and injustice, and shows how a small - town community deals with these complex problems. It also gives a good picture of the social fabric of the South at that time.

'A Contract with God' by Will Eisner is a very important 20th - century graphic novel. It was one of the first graphic novels to be recognized as such, rather than just a long - form comic. Eisner's use of sequential art to tell complex human stories was groundbreaking.

The use of symbolism is important. Symbols in these novels can represent the hidden aspects of a character's psychological state. For instance, in James Joyce's 'Ulysses', certain objects or events are symbols that convey the characters' complex mental and emotional states. Also, there is a sense of alienation in many 20th century modernist psychological novels. Characters often feel isolated from society, which reflects the psychological turmoil of the modern individual in a changing world.

Another feature was detailed social description. They depicted the social hierarchies, class differences, and cultural norms of the time. Take 'Oliver Twist' for instance. It showed the harsh life of the poor in Victorian England and the problems in the workhouse system.

One feature is the exploration of modernist themes like the fragmentation of self. Writers such as Virginia Woolf in 'Mrs. Dalloway' presented characters' inner thoughts in a stream - of - consciousness style, showing how identities were complex and often broken up in the modern world.

One feature is experimentation with form. Many 20th - century novelists broke away from traditional narrative structures. For example, James Joyce's 'Ulysses' uses stream - of - consciousness, which presents the continuous flow of thoughts in a character's mind. Another feature is the exploration of complex psychological states. Writers like Virginia Woolf delved deep into the inner lives of her characters, showing their insecurities, desires, and conflicts. Also, social and political commentary was prominent. Novels such as George Orwell's '1984' were a critique of totalitarian regimes.

One feature is the detailed character development. Novels in the 19th century often delved deeply into the personalities, motives, and inner lives of characters. For example, in 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, Elizabeth Bennet is a complex character with her own prejudices and growth throughout the story. Another feature was the exploration of social issues. Dickens' works, like 'Oliver Twist', exposed the harsh realities of poverty and class differences in 19th - century England. Also, the use of omniscient narrators was common, allowing the author to provide a wide - ranging view of the story's world and characters.

The 19th - century novels in AQA English Literature typically have rich themes. Themes such as love, morality, and ambition are common. For instance, in Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights', the theme of love is complex and intertwined with revenge and social status. The narrative structure is also important. Many of these novels follow a linear or semi - linear structure, guiding the reader through the story in a logical way. And the use of language is often elaborate, with detailed descriptions and nuanced dialogue.

One of the most influential 20th - century fiction novels is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It deals with themes of racism and injustice in the American South. Another is '1984' by George Orwell, which warns about totalitarianism. 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald is also very important, exploring the American Dream and class differences.