The English Novel: Being a Short Sketch of Its History from the Earliest Times to the Appearance of Waverley |
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Page 4
... are not without their characteristic merits . They are epical in spirit , although not in form ; they frequently begin with the genealogy of their hero , and carry him through the actions 4 [ CHAP . The English Novel .
... are not without their characteristic merits . They are epical in spirit , although not in form ; they frequently begin with the genealogy of their hero , and carry him through the actions 4 [ CHAP . The English Novel .
Page 5
... hero , and carry him through the actions and adventures of his life , concluding with his epitaph and a general ... heroes are often saved from exag- geration by the largeness of the background behind . A sense of the instability of ...
... hero , and carry him through the actions and adventures of his life , concluding with his epitaph and a general ... heroes are often saved from exag- geration by the largeness of the background behind . A sense of the instability of ...
Page 24
... heroes are as beautiful , as impressive , as unintelligible to modern fashions of thought , as the cathedral of the Middle Ages . And if the romances may be compared to masterpieces of the great medieval art of architecture , the novel ...
... heroes are as beautiful , as impressive , as unintelligible to modern fashions of thought , as the cathedral of the Middle Ages . And if the romances may be compared to masterpieces of the great medieval art of architecture , the novel ...
Page 52
... hero to his contemporaries , and his death added a lustre from the dazzling effect of which it is difficult even now to escape in considering his writings . He was born at Penshurst in 1554 , the son of Sir Henry Sidney , afterwards ...
... hero to his contemporaries , and his death added a lustre from the dazzling effect of which it is difficult even now to escape in considering his writings . He was born at Penshurst in 1554 , the son of Sir Henry Sidney , afterwards ...
Page 61
... heroes of the tale are welcomed is described as " all more last- ing than beautiful , but that the consideration of the exceeding lastingness made the eye believe it was ex- ceeding beautiful . " One of the princes , crossed in love ...
... heroes of the tale are welcomed is described as " all more last- ing than beautiful , but that the consideration of the exceeding lastingness made the eye believe it was ex- ceeding beautiful . " One of the princes , crossed in love ...
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Common terms and phrases
adventures alliteration Arcadia Artabanes artistic better borrowed called Castle of Otranto Caxton character Chaucer Clarissa comedy court criticism death Defoe delight drama Elizabethan England English prose Euphues Euphuism fashion Fielding Fielding's French Gabriel Harvey heart hero heroic romance honour human humour Huon of Bordeaux imagination imitators influence interest Italian Jones lady later literary literature living London Lyly Lyly's medieval Miss moral narration narrative Nash nature never novel novelists original Pamela pamphlets passion pathos perhaps Philautus play plot poetic poetry political praise preface prose fiction reader realistic reign Richardson satire says scenes Scott sentiment seventeenth century Shakespeare Shandy Sidney's Sir Charles Grandison Sir Philip Sidney Smollett society Spectator spirit Sterne story style success supernatural tale taste theme tion Tom Jones translation Tristram Shandy verse virtue William Copland writers written Wynkyn de Worde young
Popular passages
Page 225 - ; in which it was agreed that my endeavours should be directed to persons and characters supernatural, or at least romantic ; yet so as to transfer from our inward nature a human interest and a semblance of truth...
Page 119 - Resolution, to reject all the amplifications, digressions, and swellings of style: to return back to the primitive purity, and shortness, when men deliver'd so many things, almost in an equal number of words. They have exacted from all their members, a close, naked, natural way of speaking; positive expressions, clear senses; a native easiness: bringing all things as near the Mathematical plainness, as they can: and preferring the language of Artizans, Countrymen, and Merchants, before that, of Wits,...
Page 222 - It was an attempt to blend the two kinds of romance, the ancient and the modern. In the former, all was imagination and improbability ; in the latter, nature is always intended to be, and sometimes has been, copied with success. Invention has not been wanting ; but the great resources of fancy have been dammed up, by a strict adherence to common life.
Page 59 - But besides these gross absurdities, how all their plays be neither right tragedies nor right comedies, mingling kings and clowns, not because the matter so carrieth it, but thrust in the clown by head and shoulders to play a part in majestical matters, with neither decency nor discretion, so as neither the admiration and commiseration nor the right sportfulness is by their mongrel tragicomedy obtained.
Page 206 - Praise, said the sage, with a sigh, is to an old man an empty sound. I have neither mother to be delighted with the reputation of her son, nor wife to partake the honours of her husband. I have outlived my friends and my rivals. Nothing is now of much importance ; for I cannot extend my interest beyond myself. Youth is delighted with applause, because it is considered as the earnest of some future good, and because the prospect of life is far...
Page 14 - For herein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown. And for to pass the time this book shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give faith and belief that all is true that is contained herein, ye be at your liberty...
Page 55 - And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way. Thus, great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes, Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite, "Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart and write.
Page 268 - Without being so presumptuous as to hope to emulate the rich humour, pathetic tenderness, and admirable tact, which pervade the works of my accomplished friend, I felt that something might be attempted for my own country of the same kind with that which Miss Edgeworth so fortunately achieved for Ireland...
Page 221 - To select a singular event, and swell it to a giant's bulk by fabulous appendages of spectres and predictions, has little difficulty; for he that forsakes the probable may always find the marvellous.
Page 231 - She paused again, and then with a timid hand lifted the veil ; but instantly let it fall — perceiving that what it had concealed was no picture, and before she could leave the chamber she dropped senseless on the floor.