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The Novelist as Critic: Thackeray's Concept of the Novel

This study is primarily concerned with the formulation of Thackeray's theory of the novel through a thorough investigation of his various reviews and critiques of Victorian fiction which appeared in periodicals and by a careful examination of his letters, By evaluating the numerous comments on particular works of fiction and on the art of "novel-spinning" in general which came from Thackeray's pen, this study investigates the various Thackerayan ideas as to how novels should be written with regard to the function of the novel, the formulation of plot and character, realism and morality, the presentation of description, and the style in which novels were to be written. This investigation concludes that Thackeray's theory of the novel was that novels were to be written in a simple, straightforward style and were to present "living" characters who performed realistic, believable actions within tightly unified, logical plots in such a manner as to provide entertainment and to reaffirm the Victorian moral code.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc504192
Date08 1900
CreatorsWorden, Larry L.
ContributorsVann, J. Don (Jerry Don), 1938-, Rich, Carroll Y., Smith, John T.
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatiii, 84 leaves, Text
RightsPublic, Worden, Larry L., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

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