A General Survey of British and American Fiction

How to read Fiction / Novel
    In well- chosen words and artfully arranged imagery, literary fiction tells a story about characters in conflict or expresses an emotion or idea. But how do we as readers become involved in these narratives whether it is Robinson Crusoe or Murphy or Beloved or any other?

     We read fiction for entertainment and/ or instruction, according to some critics. Others assign a slightly different purpose to novels and short stories: to delight and/ or enlighten through the various expressions of the imagination. The first explanation emphasizes escape and message, while the second refers to the art of exploring and explaining the human experience. Popular or commercial literature may also aim to shock, amaze or provide us with an escape from reality into another world.

    Understanding popular literature is easy, because it typically employs simple characters, clearly resolvable conflicts, and familiar techniques. But many readers find it relatively difficult to respond fully- emotionally, imaginatively, and intellectually- to all the worthwhile aspects of literary fiction. It’s possible to overcome this difficulty by responding to the techniques of fiction that writers employ.

Responding to Fiction
    First, determine what point of view, or perspective, the writer is using. Writers most commonly use one of the following three. In third-person omniscient, the author tells the story, as British author Thomas Hardy does in The Return of the Native (1879). In first person the author lets a character tell the story, as Ralph Ellison des in Invisible Man (1952), and Defoe in Robinson Crusoe. In third person central intelligence, the author filters everything through a single character’s perception, as Joseph Conrad does in Heart of Darkness. Confusion results when the reader does not respond to the way the author’s choice of point of view functions in a story or novel.

    Next, pay attention to the authors style- the choice and use of words to achieve effects line by line. The point of view employed somewhat controls the style. A first- person narrator of average intelligence, for example, can only use words that are part of his or her vocabulary. Some other literary devices to notice include figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes; symbolism; major images and juxtapositions; motifs (repetition of images), and abrupt transitions. Think about how these devices function in creating the author’s style. Similarly, pay attention to the characters: Robinson Crusoe, Hester, Susan, Hetty, Beloved, Frankenstein, Sarah, Murphy, Marlowe, Henchard or any other character. You can see some of the characters matching to your teachers, friends, family members or any other people that you meet in your daily course. In this way, you can find the truth in the characters and enjoy them with your own experiences. Lastly, pay special attention to the social, cultural, historical, political etc. relation of the work.

Appreciating Fiction
    You can enjoy literary fiction more if you have som knowledge of the development of the novel and of its different types, techniques, and styles. Reading Thomas Pynchon’s massive novel Mason & Dixon (1997), for instance, is a richer experience if you know that the subject matter, theme and techniques Pynchon employs have evolved since ancient times. They came down from the Greek bard Homer, to the late Middle Age with English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, to the Renaissance era of Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes, to the Victorian era of English novelist Charles Dickens, to the modern era of Irish author James Joyce and the post-modern era of French-Algerian writer Albert Camus. Similarly, James Joyce uses pseudo- classical method i.e. modeled on Homer’s Odessey in his Ulysses, a groundbreaking book published in 1922.

    You can also enhance your experience by reading about the author and the era in which the author lived. The colorful life o American writer Ernest Hemingway offers much insight into his work. Another tactic is to compare a given novel or story with others you have read. How does the writer like Austin color her feeling in her Sense and Sensibility? In addition, discussing authors and titles with friends will give you new perspectives on the works while turning literature into a social experience.

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