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Standardization of English language today
English language and Standardization
English language and Standardization
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In the early twentieth century, the novel began to move away from rigid Victorian values and staid objective realism as writers searched for greater freedom of expression and individuality. The world was changing rapidly, and new modes of expression were needed to express representation of life in this new enlightened modern world. Subsequently, an underlining undercurrent of literary diversity was beginning to emerge. This essay will firstly, discuss what constitutes a novel, then consider the respective texts of Lonely Londoners (Sevlon) and The Emigrants (Sebald) and discuss why these narratives challenged the preconceived expectations of the ‘novel’ genre.
The novel is the dominant form in Western literature, and provides the reader with a means of social escape, especially as the novel encompasses many classification within its genre to suit individual preferences, such as historical, fiction romance, crime thrillers etc. However, the basics are fundamentally the same, in that a novel is a complex work of imagination retold as reality. The novel is a defined as a piece of prose of considerable length which is usually divided into chapters, portraying characters and normally presenting a sequential organisation of actions and events. () Whilst nineteenth century novels were predominantly realistic, with many literary works accepted within the canon of English literature as being of the highest quality, and were predominantly influential in shaping Western culture. However, this canon is constantly unstable and hotly contested in every period,’ (Asbee, 2012 p 303) and whilst writers had previously responded to the experience and effect of mass movement around the globe, as Asbee quotes ‘These writers have indeed changed an...
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... ‘He had to get up from his nice warm bed and dress and come out in this nasty weather to go and meet a fellar that he didn’t even know.’ (Sevlon, 2006,p.1) This form of narrative captures Moses frustration, and relies on the free indirect style of narration. Moreover, the use of the same form of Creolized English for the characters and for the narrative makes an impression that the person who is telling the story of the immigrants in Britain is actually one of them, and not only some distant observer. The language of The Lonely Londoners different from Standard English. For example, the use of ‘do’ even in third person singular, for instance. ‘He don't know how he always getting in position like this...’ (Selvon,2006, p. 4).The verb ‘to be’ is often omitted even in sentences in present simple, as in ‘It have some fellars who in Brit'n long,’ (Selvon,2006,p. 4).
Are classic novels still being referred in modern society? Yes. Yes they do. – David Ngo claims
Although a novel is usually fictional most are written off real life experiences and feelings. Novels can enhance the feelings of what realism dumbs down to straight facts.
Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 9th ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print
Stillinger, Jack, Deidre Lynch, Stephen Greenblatt, and M H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Volume D. New York, N.Y: W.W. Norton & Co, 2006. Print.
Consequently, one can broach a series of querries about literature and the nature of literary theories : what is literature ? What is the novel and what is its function ? And finally, to what extent does criticism affect the quality of literature ? This welter of questions is nothing but the tip of the ice berg.
The Nineteenth-Century Novel: A Critical Reader, London: Routledge Da Sousa Correa, Delia. Ed. 2000 The Nineteenth-Century Novel: Realisms, London: Routledge www.sparknotes.com/lit/northangerabbey
What is the definition of a good novel? Opinions on this question may differ, but there are many things that good novels have in common. Most importantly, the reader must enjoy the novel. When I use the word enjoy, I don’t necessarily mean that it should make the reader ‘happy’ or ‘joyful’. The novel should give the reader a valuable or worthwhile experience. Many good novels often address topics that relate to our own reality. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, one of the main focuses is on power and corruption.
The setting for this novel was a constantly shifting one. Taking place during what seems to be the Late Industrial Revolution and the high of the British Empire, the era is portrayed amongst influential Englishmen, the value of the pound, the presence of steamers, railroads, ferries, and a European globe.
There is a also the new phenomenon of novelization. When Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations was filmed for the last time so far in 1998, lots of people wanted, as usual, wanted to read the book on which the film based itself. For a number of inexperienced young readers, however, Dickens’ original was too much of a challenge. Intead they chose to read the light version of the story, based on the film screenplay – a so called novelization. Naturally, tjis is a controversial type of novel but some people maintain that sometimes it is a good thing that young people read books at all, and that a light version is far better than no version. In any case, the reading of the novel is stimulated by the film adaptation.
The plot, throughout the 20th century, was consistently redefined as a movement and experimented with. Modernist fiction brought a lot of new and innovative ways of constructing novels, from the narrative perspective, character understanding, to the new importance of the language, which became central in matters of plot. Postmodernist novels evolved plot even more, trying to change it in various experimental ways.
Abrams, M. & Greenblatt, S. 2000. The Norton Anthology of English Literature 7th ed. Vol. 2. London: Norton.
Jack London is among the many prolific writers from the United States of America who possess great artistic works ranging from great time novels ,short stories to plays just but to mention a few. He is fondly remembered for his great novel, ‘Martin Eden’ published in 1909. In the novel he tries to express the challenges faced by young writers who try to exploit their talent and passion in an area where little opportunities present themselves. This novel has stood the test of time with its relevance evident to date. It is a favorite to many young upcoming writers thus the main aim for writing this paper is to focus on the autobiography of Jack London as ‘Martin Eden’.
The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. Christ Carol T., Catherine Robson, and Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. Print.
The Victorian Literary Movement that took place in England during the reign of Queen Victoria is what lead to the prominent factors that can be seen across the era of writing. From 1837 to 1901 Victorian Literature evolved from a heavy focus on proper behaviors, to a high level of rebellious acts against the proper Englishman. The code of conducts and push towards social advancements that once moved literature forward soon fell victim to change. This era started out in poetry and moved towards novels as being the dominate form of writing. The Victorian era, being so large in and of itself, has always been thought of as the time when Queen Victoria ruled. Through the years however, there are three major ideas that have been seen in writing that can really help to break this era down. As the audience for writers changed, the stigma of reading only for pleasure began to dissipate. People began to see how social advancement could be a positive thing, and from there aspired to be proper Englishmen. Authors such as Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, Charlotte and Emily B...
There are certain components that a novel should contain. George Phelps has come up with a six-part basis for identifying novels: the writing must be fictitious, or in other words "not pretend to tell the truth," have a certain length, attain a unity of "plot, theme, tone, atmosphere, or vision," create an illusion of reality, be concerned with character, and be prose (Phelps 7-8). Kettle, in his An Introduction to the English Novel, argues a novel must have two elements -- a quality of life and a significant pattern (13).