How does the appropriate use of time contribute to the overall effect of a novel?
The appropriate use of time is crucial for mood - setting. Slow - moving time can create a sense of calm or melancholy, while rapid - fire time can induce excitement or panic. In a horror novel, for instance, a sudden acceleration of time when the monster is approaching can heighten the sense of dread. It also affects the reader's perception of the characters. As time passes in the story, we see how characters change or remain the same, which makes them more or less relatable.
The use of time in novels greatly contributes to the overall effect. It can build suspense. Imagine a countdown to a big event. The author can use the passing of time to make the reader more and more anxious about what's going to happen. Time also gives context. If a novel is set in a different historical period, the way time was measured, the social rhythms, all of these aspects of time can make the setting more vivid. Moreover, it can shape the narrative structure. A circular use of time, where the story ends where it began, can give a sense of fate or inevitability to the whole novel.
