Let's talk about novels
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

When was the last time you read a novel? There are only four of them on your syllabus and I am confident that many of you have already had the pleasure of reading them. Reading is the favourite hobby of a great number of persons, in which I am included. I clearly re-member my grandfather's love of reading - the Bible and The Daily and Sunday Gleaner being his literary staples - and of how I was rapped on my knuckles when caught reading a Hardy Boys book instead of practising on the organ. While I still read voraciously, I am a complete failure on the organ. You, however, can master both or anything you put your mind and efforts into doing.

Let me remind you that one sure way of 'visiting' other parts of the world, while never having to pay travelling expenses, is to read widely and I mean here that you should try to read sound books. The CXC English syllabus has a large number of suggested reading materials. If you do not have a copy of this syllabus, you should be able to borrow from your teacher. There are many other rewards for studying literature, among them being:

• The widening and strengthening of your vocabulary
• The improvement of your expression
• The improvement of your ability to spell
• The sharpening of your skill of analysis.

By this time, you know that we are starting our work on the novel. Before we bite into the sweet, juicy fruit of our first one, however, here is some preliminary information.

A novel is written in continuous prose, unlike a play. It also has many elements, including a plot, characters, setting, point of view and themes and some amount of dialogue. A novel tells a story and does so in an orderly manner. Now this does not always mean that the story begins at point A and proceeds step by step or development by development through to Z. Some writers use a technique known as flashback. In this, the writer introduces the story from Z, then moves to A and then proceeds to Z again. This means that the story moves out of sequence to deal with an event or situation that occurred before the time that the story takes place. In this way, the author is able to give his readers background information. Foreshadowing is another technique sometimes used by authors. This is the early introduction into the story of characters, situations, objects or events that hint at things to come. It gives the writer the opportunity to suggest future developments and to gradually prepare his readers to realise the importance of some details.

The narrative (novel) may have some facts and some history in its background, but it is the imaginary work of an author. In other words, the writer is the creator of the characters, their relationships, the actions in the story and how all is brought to an end or resolved. Of course, in some stories, the focus is on real people and events.

I do not have to tell you that there are many types of novels. You are, no doubt, familiar with the romance novels (particularly the young ladies) - modern or historical or gothic, mystery, war, folk and fairy tales, science fiction, westerns or religious. Novels cater to a wide variety of tastes, are set anywhere and anytime. You see, narratives come out of an oral tradition. There was a time when storytelling was one of the chief methods of entertainment. In days long ago, stories were told not on paper, but orally, in prose and or poetry. Storytellers incorporated simple, clear characters and the struggle between good and evil in their tales. It is believed that the fairy tales, like Cinderella, come out of the oral tradition and have influenced the development of the modern novel.

Did you read Robinson Crusoe when you were younger? Have you ever heard of it? It was written by Daniel Defoe, an English man, and he is credited with writing the first novel. Since 1719 when this story was written, there have been many changes to the novel. In the nineteenth century, many of the narratives that were written were lengthy, containing several well-developed characters and in realistic settings. Authors, such as Charles Dickens, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, as well as Thomas Hardy, are remembered for their contribution to the growth of the narrative form.

Now, before we delve into our first prose work this term, I am encouraging you to pay attention to the following aspects of literature: plot, setting, characters, point of view, style and themes. Here is some information about each.

Plot is concerned with the events in the story and how they relate to each other. Plot contains the germ of the story, starting with the exposition in which some basic facts are presented. This is followed by a series of complications, climax and, lastly, resolution. The exposition can be very brief or it can be extensive - introducing main characters and sometimes important events or conflicts. As students of the subject, you must look at the conflicts and their sources, that is, how they start and how they are settled. Is there foreshadowing or is the flashback method used?

In our next lesson, we will continue to 'talk' about the novel. Do take care of yourselves and God bless!