THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE NOVEL

  

THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE NOVEL

 

Introduction

The novel is a powerful and popular form of literature. It tells stories in prose and focuses on people, emotions, and events. But the novel did not exist from the beginning. It is a modern form compared to older forms like epic poetry and drama. William Henry Hudson, in his book An Introduction to the Study of Literature, gives a clear explanation of how the novel began and how it grew. His views help us understand why the novel became so important in modern literature. This essay discusses the origin and growth of the novel as presented by Hudson. 

Early Roots and Literary Background

The novel is one of the latest literary forms to develop. It came after poetry, ballads, epics, and drama. Long ago, people shared stories through oral traditions. These included tales of heroes, gods, and great battles. Slowly, these became written poems and plays. While the drama appeared earlier, the novel came later. Both the drama and the novel use similar material—human life. They tell stories about people and their actions. But they are also different. The drama is for the stage. It depends on acting, costumes, and performance. The novel is written to be read. It does not need actors or stage props. It creates a full world in the reader’s mind through words alone.

 

Why the Novel Took Time to Appear

Hudson says the novel appeared late because of historical and artistic reasons. Earlier, storytelling was done through poems and plays. These were easier to perform or memorize. Books were expensive and rare. People did not read as much as they do now. With the invention of printing, things changed. Books became cheaper. More people learned to read. Life also became more complex. People began to take interest in the lives of common men and women. They wanted stories that reflected everyday life. The novel was perfect for this.

 

The Novel as a "Pocket Theatre"

Hudson shares a beautiful idea by Marion Crawford. He calls the novel a “pocket theatre.” This means that a novel includes everything—a story, characters, setting, feelings, and even costumes—but in words. The reader imagines all this. The novel gives freedom to the reader’s mind. Unlike the stage, the novel has no limits. A drama has to fit in a few hours. But a novel can be long. It can go deep into a character’s life. It can describe many places and times. This freedom helped the novel grow. It became more flexible than drama or poetry.

 

Why the Novel Became So Popular

Hudson explains that the novel became the leading form of literature because of this freedom. In modern life, people face many problems. Society is large and complex. The novel became the best way to capture these realities. It could show personal struggles, social issues, and even political themes.

The novel also does not need special training. A playwright must learn stage rules. But anyone with skill and time can write a novel. This open nature made the novel grow fast. Writers from all walks of life started writing novels.

 

The Novel as a Reflection of Life

Hudson believes that the novel exists because people are deeply interested in other people. We want to know how others live, feel, and think. This natural interest creates stories. The novel is one way to share such stories. Earlier, this interest led to epics or ballads. Later, it turned into novels. The novel became the best form to express personal and social life. It could show both small emotions and big historical events. It became a mirror of life.

 

Change in Literary Taste

In earlier times, people liked heroic stories. These were often unrealistic. Heroes were perfect. They fought monsters or saved kingdoms. But slowly, readers wanted something more real. They wanted stories of real people, with real problems. The novel gave this. It brought the reader closer to the character. Instead of kings and gods, the story was about villagers, workers, and common people. This change in taste helped the novel grow.

 

Historical Development of the Novel

Hudson does not list a timeline, but his ideas point to key developments. In the early 18th century, writers like Daniel Defoe and Samuel Richardson began writing long prose stories. These were early forms of novels. They focused on one character and followed their life in detail. Later, writers like Fielding, Jane Austen, and Scott added more to the form. They improved the way stories were told. Their novels were more organized and explored deeper themes. As time passed, the novel became more polished and powerful. By the 19th century, the novel had become the most important literary form. Great writers like Dickens, George Eliot, and Tolstoy used it to explore society and human nature. Today, the novel continues to evolve.

 

The Strength of the Novel

Hudson says that the novel is stronger than other forms in many ways. It has more freedom. It can be short or long. It can focus on one person or many. It can mix comedy, tragedy, and philosophy. It can talk about villages, cities, or even the whole world. The novel is not just for fun. It can make people think. It can teach lessons without preaching. It can change how people see the world. That is why it became such a central form in literature.

 

The Looseness and Flexibility of the Novel

Hudson also points out that the novel is not strict like drama. Drama has rules. It must be short. It must be written for performance. The novel has no such rules. It is free to follow its own path. Because of this, the novel is hard to define. It is open to many styles and forms. Some novels are full of events. Others are slow and thoughtful. This flexibility is part of its charm. It grows because it can change.

 

Rise of Readers and Writers

Another reason for the novel’s growth is the rise in literacy. In earlier times, few people could read. Books were rare. But with printing and education, more people became readers. They wanted books they could enjoy and understand. The novel met this need. It became a part of everyday life. People read novels for entertainment, for learning, and for escape. Writers found an eager audience. This relationship between reader and writer helped the novel grow even more.

 

The Novel as a Modern Form

Hudson sees the novel as the form that best fits the modern world. Our lives are full of choices, confusion, and change. The novel can show all this. It can explore both the mind and the world outside. In earlier ages, poetry and drama were enough. But modern people wanted more depth and variety. The novel could do this. It became the main way to talk about modern life, feelings, and society.

 

Conclusion

The novel did not begin early. It grew slowly out of people’s need to tell stories about real life. Hudson shows that its growth was natural and necessary. With changing society, the novel took shape. It gave voice to the individual. It allowed writers to share their world with readers. Today, the novel continues to grow because it can adapt. It is free, flexible, and close to human life. Hudson’s ideas help us understand why the novel became the most important literary form of our time. It is a mirror, a teacher, and a friend to every reader.

 

Reference:

Hudson, William Henry. An Introduction to the Study of Literature. Rupa Publications India, 2015.