Knowledge of the history of the text plays a vital role in my interpretation of the piece. The history puts the text as Vincent said into context. It also provides background information such as,time period ,social conditions and the events that may have shaped the writer's perspective. The history of the novel may also add clarity to the actions of the characters and their reactions to certain events or issues that are raised in the text.Furthermore the history allows us to have a more rounded view of the text and the arrangement of incidents.
Sorry, I think I need to clarify my question. A.D. and Caris are referring to the socio-cultural, political, and literary context of a novel. When I ask about the history of the novel, I am referring to the novel as a genre (and not to any specific novel) based on what we started talking about in the introductory lectures. Hence, my question says the history of "the" novel and not the history of "a" novel.
The history of the novel is crucial in understanding the journey from the 18 th century and the different changes that were made to make it what it I today. Personally, the history of the novel was never considered and it was thought provoking to have met with the topic, The Emergence of the Novel. It was exciting to see that the word in itself came from other languages as most words do. I guess I took for granted the concept of " novel" . Suffice it to say, the stages that the novel went through, the journey from Elizabethan to today is quite remarkable. In itself the history of the novel is a study in itself.
If I had not read the previous comments,I myself would have interpreted the question as the history of any specific novel and not the history of the genre itself.lol but as Ms.Attong said, it makes one have a vivid understanding of the "evolution' of the novel. which gives also an understanding of the history of languages,the way it was expressed and how it has changed throughout centuries. This in itself gives me a greater sense of appreciation for the novel. I love reading :)
ditto La toya...I totally agree with you. I heard the term novella mentioned but took no real notice of it or the fact that was related to stages with respect to size etc. It made me think of the reason another author would increase the size and thus bringing about a change in name. Unlike the ever-changing cell phone, smaller is not necessarily better. On numerous occassions I have been enthraled in a novel so completely that the need to get back to its pages stayed with me all day.... That still does not answer the question....I believe the transformation will create an appreciation for the novel itself and the work of the authors dedicated to its continuous development.
Sincere thanks Dr.Skeete for the correction, a typical case of leaping before looking. The history of the novel is extremely important because knowledge of where something comes from allows me to have a greater appreciation for what it is presently and the growth it has undergone. I have never given serious thought to where or how the novel came into being. The novel was just there and I never looked beyond that fact. Interesting things that stood out for me in the last lecture was that the novel is over 300,00 years old, emerging from political, social, religious and economic upheavals. The novel generated mass literacy and enabled the ordinary man to have a form of literature he could call his own for the novel belongs to all.
History of the novel is important since it illustrated the ever changing society and also that language is dynamic, its functions now expanding from the poetic and dramatic to wanting meaning. Prose was the voice of the common man and it presented real issues through the stories which highlighted everyday situations. It was also able to capture a far wider audience that neither poetry or drama was able to garner, which also ensured that it would be here to stay.
i think it distinguishes the novel from different kinds of prose fiction.it explains the beginnings of the novel, it describes the development of the novel in the Romantic and Victorian periods, and it gives clear comparison between the modern and contemporary, and the late 20th and early 21st century trends of the novel.
Knowing the history of a novel is quite important. It is like knowing the history of a person so we avoid making hasty judgments and nasty comments. Knowing about a novel's history provides that essential knowledge to know about the background be it the author as sometimes they write based on life experiences and historical events that some of us may relate too.Hence the importance in knowing about the history of a novel.
I think knowing the history of any novel is like getting into the mind of the author, with this prior knowledge we are open to limitless interpetations of the text as we can get a clearer understanding of not just the context and setting but as to why when and how the author conceptualize and premediate the book existence.....i believe that history is very significant because without it there wouldnt be literature to begin with and our imagination and interpretation would be limited..
The History of the Novel as discussed started in the early 18th century and then stepped into the Elizabethan prose fiction and French heroic romances as it became more popular with the growing middle class with more leisure time to read and money to buy books. the English novels such as "EMMA" and "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE". then the 19th century focused on nature and imagination rather than intellect and emotion e.g. "MOBY DICK" The Victorian Novels portrayed middle-class virtuous heroes responding to society and learning wrong from right through a series of human errors e.g. "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" And then there's the Realism and Naturalism with the rise of industrialization in the 19th century, where novels began to depict characters who were not entirely good or bad.e.g "TOM SAWYER" The Modern and Contemporary Novel of the 20th century reflected events such as the Great Depression, World War II. And Postmodern Novels included magical realms, where man is ruled by a higher power and the universe cannot be explained by reason alone. e.g "THE COLOR PURPLE"
I'm not 100% sure if this answers the question "Why does it matter knowing the history of the novel?" but this is what I gathered and doing the research for this was very enlightening also...as a compliment to the slides posted by Dr. Skeete on lecture 2
Awareness of the history of the novel is crucial as this elucidates how writing has transformed and developed over time. Also having knowledge on the history of the novel we are able to identify the direct and indirect influence in the evolution of the genre. In other words knowing the history highlights what gave rise to this style of extended writing. Furthermore, the history of the novel exposes and illustrates to us it's construction and complexity. This knowledge therefore enables us to analyse the stylistic structure and distinguish it from other styles.
The history of the novel plays a great role in our overall perception of works of fiction;in order for a novel to be analysed/broken apart for better understanding, its origins must be known and understood. By knowing the history of novels/the novel in general, a better interpretation of it can be made and a reader can better appreciate a writer's work.
It matters because we need to know about the past in order to better comprehend the present; without knowing of the origins of the novel(what it entails,how it came about,what it was meant to bring across to its readers then, then we would have no knowledge of how to interpret and appreciate different genres of this day and age.
It is important to know the history of the novel and more so the history of the author since authors usually write from their personal or cultural experience. So it is important to know what perspective the author is writing from. Hence the reason, Achebe's "Things Fall Apart " is written from a heavily African background as opposed to Lovelace's "The Dragon Can't Dance" is written from the Trinidadian culture perspective and more so is written from the life experiences.
Honestly, I haven't seen the importance of knowing the history (the evolution of the novel form) as it relates to our course of study but, I do think the history is interesting and to some extent, gives me a greater appreciation and respect for the form itself (especially since 'female' readership played a role in it - makes me feel a bit special); I respect its struggle and its rise to the top. I like poetry and drama but they can't compare to a good novel!
I read most of "Things Fall Apart" without knowing the history of the novel, later, when i delved into its history my perspective shifted quite a bit and i was able to have a greater appreciation for aspects of the novel that i did not place much significance on when i first read it. I think that knowing the history of the novel may influence your personal perspective of the piece and even change entirely the way you think about the novel and its events. I took the history of the novel to mean the history of the author, setting, time period etc.
If one is knowledgeable about the history of any text then there is a greater tendency for one to understand why certain events happened the way they did, and understand the beliefs and traditions of people in that time period. The reader would be able to interpret the author's thoughts and understand his or her perspective or point of view.
I think it is very important to know the history of the novel because in knowing the history we would get an understanidng of where the story o going and also ablout the what would be going on in the novel even before reading it.
Like the History of pretty much anything (a country, people, a place, tradition), knowing where it was, where it started, its progress and it's placement centuries later, is usually not just an amazing thing but an important thing as well. We are better able to appreciate novels regardless of the form and genre. Analysis of how an author carries you through his/her's book and observing the techniques they choose to use and why, can be a completely different experience for someone who understands the Novel 'then' and knows it now, from an individual who is simply 'reading a novel'. I believe knowing the history is important if only just for the purpose of higher appreciation.
The history of the novel DOES matter. As readers, and moreover, as literature students, we need to be aware of the origin of the novel and the time period in which it was introduced. We need to know what events led to the creation of the novel and what was the social underpinning that existed at the time. Its evolution is also of importance, as it shows the different changes that the novel has gone through, which in turn, might lead to how authors of different generations have written. As Denise said, we need to know about the past in order to know about the present.
The history of the novel is a must if the writer is to understand the exact details leading up too the story or what may have took place to allow the story to be one for that matter. History is what shapes the novel into the book it would eventually become. Literature students especially must be given the history of a particular novel if they are meant to properly analyse, criticise and write on that story.
Knowing this would give the reader a clearer perspective of the conditions that the writer undertook to write the said novel, and the physical, emotional and mental tasks that had to have been overcome in order for it to be written and understood successfully.
The history of the novel can give an interpretation of the novel in a different light. For instance the novel, The Dragon Can't Dance. If one does not know the history of Post colonial literature then the meaning would be totally lost.
It matters knowing the history of the novel both as a reader and a writer because if one is to read or write a novel, a certain amount of history would be known to that individual. History does not necessarily have to be political, physical, and ancient or religious (just to name a few). It can also be the history of the individual writing or reading and the author's own history including the named characteristics above that was occurring at the time the piece was being written. A novel cannot be written without a past behind its meaning. Although times change many similar themes are found throughout various novels written in different time periods. According to Cindy Raghubar, a novel "can be a completely different experience for someone who understands the Novel 'then' and knows it now." This is clearly seen in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The audience that read the same book (excluding all additional details that Oscar Wilde has added) compared to reading it now is extremely different. Hence, the objections and criticism that met Oscar Wilde in the publication of the said book. Now we view the novel in a different light because of a change in morals and time period. Therefore, knowing the history of a novel is valuable in understanding and interpreting Literature on a whole.
BLOGGER'S NAME: MELINA WISKY It is very important to know the history because it puts the novel in perspective i.e, historical context. If people make themselves privy to history facts (eg Grapes of Wrath and the Great Depression), it will help the reader to understand why certain events unfolded and why characters acted the way they did. If one does not know the historical context and what was the customs/happenings at that time, when one reads the book, (s)he will not walk out knowing the book's purpose, plot or anything, rather, the person will have the AUDACITY to blast the book that they have no knowledge of!!! IT IS IGNORANT (ie people who are ignorant of facts not the Trini meaning of ignorant meaning stupid)PEOPLE LIKE THAT WHO SAY "THE BOOK IS BORING" or "WHY THEM BEHAVIN SO IN DE BOOK?" but these people FAIL to realize that if they gather all the facts, the overall outcome of the book will be grasped. Agree?
It is without a doubt that knowing the history of a novel before reading the novel is indeed very important. The author's background, setting and time period often provide great insight into the novel despite the reader's oblivion to it. Stories even though fictitious are often based on real events. The Grapes of Wrath for instance is a historical novel and the Dust Bowl was indeed a real event in the 1930's in southern plains of America. Exposure to the history of the novel therefore sets the context of the novel and the reader not only appreciates the story being unfolded but also understands the details of the novel.
The knowledge of the history of the novel is very important because in different countries the novels emerged for different reasons anddue to the diferent struggles that they the authors went through some wrote novels as a form of protest of what was happening at that time, Don Quijote is an example, and it is interesting to know that somethings we take for granted now, may not have had an easy such an easy begining.
Like any aspect of life, the interaction one has with a novel can only truly be appreciated and understood when the setting and context is known.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge of the history of the text plays a vital role in my interpretation of the piece. The history puts the text as Vincent said into context. It also provides background information such as,time period ,social conditions and the events that may have shaped the writer's perspective. The history of the novel may also add clarity to the actions of the characters and their reactions to certain events or issues that are raised in the text.Furthermore the history allows us to have a more rounded view of the text and the arrangement of incidents.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I think I need to clarify my question. A.D. and Caris are referring to the socio-cultural, political, and literary context of a novel. When I ask about the history of the novel, I am referring to the novel as a genre (and not to any specific novel) based on what we started talking about in the introductory lectures. Hence, my question says the history of "the" novel and not the history of "a" novel.
ReplyDeleteThe history of the novel is crucial in understanding the journey from the 18 th century and the different changes that were made to make it what it I today. Personally, the history of the novel was never considered and it was thought provoking to have met with the topic, The Emergence of the Novel. It was exciting to see that the word in itself came from other languages as most words do. I guess I took for granted the concept of " novel" . Suffice it to say, the stages that the novel went through, the journey from Elizabethan to today is quite remarkable. In itself the history of the novel is a study in itself.
ReplyDeleteIf I had not read the previous comments,I myself would have interpreted the question as the history of any specific novel and not the history of the genre itself.lol but as Ms.Attong said, it makes one have a vivid understanding of the "evolution' of the novel. which gives also an understanding of the history of languages,the way it was expressed and how it has changed throughout centuries. This in itself gives me a greater sense of appreciation for the novel. I love reading :)
ReplyDeleteditto La toya...I totally agree with you. I heard the term novella mentioned but took no real notice of it or the fact that was related to stages with respect to size etc. It made me think of the reason another author would increase the size and thus bringing about a change in name. Unlike the ever-changing cell phone, smaller is not necessarily better. On numerous occassions I have been enthraled in a novel so completely that the need to get back to its pages stayed with me all day.... That still does not answer the question....I believe the transformation will create an appreciation for the novel itself and the work of the authors dedicated to its continuous development.
ReplyDeleteSincere thanks Dr.Skeete for the correction, a typical case of leaping before looking. The history of the novel is extremely important because knowledge of where something comes from allows me to have a greater appreciation for what it is presently and the growth it has undergone. I have never given serious thought to where or how the novel came into being. The novel was just there and I never looked beyond that fact. Interesting things that stood out for me in the last lecture was that the novel is over 300,00 years old, emerging from political, social, religious and economic upheavals. The novel generated mass literacy and enabled the ordinary man to have a form of literature he could call his own for the novel belongs to all.
ReplyDeleteHistory of the novel is important since it illustrated the ever changing society and also that language is dynamic, its functions now expanding from the poetic and dramatic to wanting meaning. Prose was the voice of the common man and it presented real issues through the stories which highlighted everyday situations. It was also able to capture a far wider audience that neither poetry or drama was able to garner, which also ensured that it would be here to stay.
ReplyDeletei think it distinguishes the novel from different kinds of prose fiction.it explains the beginnings of the novel, it describes the development of the novel in the Romantic and Victorian periods, and it gives clear comparison between the modern and contemporary, and the late 20th and early 21st century trends of the novel.
ReplyDeleteKnowing the history of a novel is quite important. It is like knowing the history of a person so we avoid making hasty judgments and nasty comments. Knowing about a novel's history provides that essential knowledge to know about the background be it the author as sometimes they write based on life experiences and historical events that some of us may relate too.Hence the importance in knowing about the history of a novel.
ReplyDeleteI think knowing the history of any novel is like getting into the mind of the author, with this prior knowledge we are open to limitless interpetations of the text as we can get a clearer understanding of not just the context and setting but as to why when and how the author conceptualize and premediate the book existence.....i believe that history is very significant because without it there wouldnt be literature to begin with and our imagination and interpretation would be limited..
ReplyDeleteThe History of the Novel as discussed started in the early 18th century and then stepped into the Elizabethan prose fiction and French heroic romances as it became more popular with the growing middle class with more leisure time to read and money to buy books. the English novels such as "EMMA" and "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE".
ReplyDeletethen the 19th century focused on nature and imagination rather than intellect and emotion e.g. "MOBY DICK"
The Victorian Novels portrayed middle-class virtuous heroes responding to society and learning wrong from right through a series of human errors e.g. "ALICE IN WONDERLAND"
And then there's the Realism and Naturalism with the rise of industrialization in the 19th century, where novels began to depict characters who were not entirely good or bad.e.g "TOM SAWYER"
The Modern and Contemporary Novel of the 20th century reflected events such as the Great Depression, World War II.
And Postmodern Novels included magical realms, where man is ruled by a higher power and the universe cannot be explained by reason alone. e.g "THE COLOR PURPLE"
I'm not 100% sure if this answers the question "Why does it matter knowing the history of the novel?" but this is what I gathered and doing the research for this was very enlightening also...as a compliment to the slides posted by Dr. Skeete on lecture 2
(I stand to be corrected if I was out of context)
Awareness of the history of the novel is crucial as this elucidates how writing has transformed and developed over time. Also having knowledge on the history of the novel we are able to identify the direct and indirect influence in the evolution of the genre. In other words knowing the history highlights what gave rise to this style of extended writing. Furthermore, the history of the novel exposes and illustrates to us it's construction and complexity. This knowledge therefore enables us to analyse the stylistic structure and distinguish it from other styles.
ReplyDeleteThe history of the novel plays a great role in our overall perception of works of fiction;in order for a novel to be analysed/broken apart for better understanding, its origins must be known and understood. By knowing the history of novels/the novel in general, a better interpretation of it can be made and a reader can better appreciate a writer's work.
ReplyDeleteIt matters because we need to know about the past in order to better comprehend the present; without knowing of the origins of the novel(what it entails,how it came about,what it was meant to bring across to its readers then, then we would have no knowledge of how to interpret and appreciate different genres of this day and age.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to know the history of the novel and more so the history of the author since authors usually write from their personal or cultural experience. So it is important to know what perspective the author is writing from. Hence the reason, Achebe's "Things Fall Apart " is written from a heavily African background as opposed to Lovelace's "The Dragon Can't Dance" is written from the Trinidadian culture perspective and more so is written from the life experiences.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I haven't seen the importance of knowing the history (the evolution of the novel form) as it relates to our course of study but, I do think the history is interesting and to some extent, gives me a greater appreciation and respect for the form itself (especially since 'female' readership played a role in it - makes me feel a bit special); I respect its struggle and its rise to the top. I like poetry and drama but they can't compare to a good novel!
ReplyDeleteI read most of "Things Fall Apart" without knowing the history of the novel, later, when i delved into its history my perspective shifted quite a bit and i was able to have a greater appreciation for aspects of the novel that i did not place much significance on when i first read it. I think that knowing the history of the novel may influence your personal perspective of the piece and even change entirely the way you think about the novel and its events.
ReplyDeleteI took the history of the novel to mean the history of the author, setting, time period etc.
If one is knowledgeable about the history of any text then there is a greater tendency for one to understand why certain events happened the way they did, and understand the beliefs and traditions of people in that time period. The reader would be able to interpret the author's thoughts and understand his or her perspective or point of view.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very important to know the history of the novel because in knowing the history we would get an understanidng of where the story o going and also ablout the what would be going on in the novel even before reading it.
ReplyDeleteLike the History of pretty much anything (a country, people, a place, tradition), knowing where it was, where it started, its progress and it's placement centuries later, is usually not just an amazing thing but an important thing as well. We are better able to appreciate novels regardless of the form and genre. Analysis of how an author carries you through his/her's book and observing the techniques they choose to use and why, can be a completely different experience for someone who understands the Novel 'then' and knows it now, from an individual who is simply 'reading a novel'.
ReplyDeleteI believe knowing the history is important if only just for the purpose of higher appreciation.
The history of the novel DOES matter. As readers, and moreover, as literature students, we need to be aware of the origin of the novel and the time period in which it was introduced. We need to know what events led to the creation of the novel and what was the social underpinning that existed at the time. Its evolution is also of importance, as it shows the different changes that the novel has gone through, which in turn, might lead to how authors of different generations have written. As Denise said, we need to know about the past in order to know about the present.
ReplyDeleteThe history of the novel is a must if the writer is to understand the exact details leading up too the story or what may have took place to allow the story to be one for that matter. History is what shapes the novel into the book it would eventually become. Literature students especially must be given the history of a particular novel if they are meant to properly analyse, criticise and write on that story.
ReplyDeleteKnowing this would give the reader a clearer perspective of the conditions that the writer undertook to write the said novel, and the physical, emotional and mental tasks that had to have been overcome in order for it to be written and understood successfully.
ReplyDeleteThe history of the novel can give an interpretation of the novel in a different light. For instance the novel, The Dragon Can't Dance. If one does not know the history of Post colonial literature then the meaning would be totally lost.
ReplyDeleteIt matters knowing the history of the novel both as a reader and a writer because if one is to read or write a novel, a certain amount of history would be known to that individual. History does not necessarily have to be political, physical, and ancient or religious (just to name a few). It can also be the history of the individual writing or reading and the author's own history including the named characteristics above that was occurring at the time the piece was being written. A novel cannot be written without a past behind its meaning. Although times change many similar themes are found throughout various novels written in different time periods. According to Cindy Raghubar, a novel "can be a completely different experience for someone who understands the Novel 'then' and knows it now." This is clearly seen in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The audience that read the same book (excluding all additional details that Oscar Wilde has added) compared to reading it now is extremely different. Hence, the objections and criticism that met Oscar Wilde in the publication of the said book. Now we view the novel in a different light because of a change in morals and time period. Therefore, knowing the history of a novel is valuable in understanding and interpreting Literature on a whole.
ReplyDeletei think its very important to know the history of a book so that reader can fully understand the message the writer is making
ReplyDeleteBLOGGER'S NAME: MELINA WISKY
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to know the history because it puts the novel in perspective i.e, historical context. If people make themselves privy to history facts (eg Grapes of Wrath and the Great Depression), it will help the reader to understand why certain events unfolded and why characters acted the way they did. If one does not know the historical context and what was the customs/happenings at that time, when one reads the book, (s)he will not walk out knowing the book's purpose, plot or anything, rather, the person will have the AUDACITY to blast the book that they have no knowledge of!!! IT IS IGNORANT (ie people who are ignorant of facts not the Trini meaning of ignorant meaning stupid)PEOPLE LIKE THAT WHO SAY "THE BOOK IS BORING" or "WHY THEM BEHAVIN SO IN DE BOOK?" but these people FAIL to realize that if they gather all the facts, the overall outcome of the book will be grasped. Agree?
It is without a doubt that knowing the history of a novel before reading the novel is indeed very important. The author's background, setting and time period often provide great insight into the novel despite the reader's oblivion to it. Stories even though fictitious are often based on real events. The Grapes of Wrath for instance is a historical novel and the Dust Bowl was indeed a real event in the 1930's in southern plains of America. Exposure to the history of the novel therefore sets the context of the novel and the reader not only appreciates the story being unfolded but also understands the details of the novel.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe knowledge of the history of the novel is very important because in different countries the novels emerged for different reasons anddue to the diferent struggles that they the authors went through some wrote novels as a form of protest of what was happening at that time, Don Quijote is an example, and it is interesting to know that somethings we take for granted now, may not have had an easy such an easy begining.
ReplyDelete