Definition of a Novel
The term 'Novel' refers to a fictitious prose narrative or tale of a lengthy plot that presents a
picture series of a real or imaginary life. It is longer and much more elaborate than a short story.
The world 'novella' was applied by Boccaccio for his tales written in the 14th century in Italy.
The novel became very popular in the second half of the 18th century.
Types of Novel in English Literature
1- An Autobiographical Novel
A novel based on a life of the author . EXAMPLE : AUTHOR : Charles Dicken NOVEL :
David Copperfield AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL
2-The Gothic Novel
The Gothic novel is also called horror novels. They were developed in the second half of the
18th century. EXAMPLE : Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
3- An Epistolary Novel
An epistolary novel is a novel in which the plot of the novel develops through the medium of
letters. The best example is 'Pamela' by Richardson.
4-The Picaresque Novel
In this novel, the hero is a rough or bad character who comes across a number of characters
equally bad during his wandering from place to place. 'TOM jones' by Henry Fielding is a good
example of it.
5- Social Realism Novel
Social or Sociological novels deal with the nature , function and effects of the society which the
characters inhabit – often for the purpose of effecting reform. Social issues came to the forefront
with the condition of laborers in the industrial revolution and later in the depression : Dickens’
hard times, Gaskell’s Mary barton.
6. The Domestic Novel
This novel presents the day to day life of a middle-class family and its relations with friends and
neighbors. Jane Austen's novel is domestic novels. EXAMPLE : Pride and Prejudice
7. The Psychological Novel
This novel is the most modern novel. Some of these novels is also called ' Stream of
Consciousness' novel. In this type of novel, the novelist gives emphasis on the delineation of the
inner world of his characters. In other words, the psychological novel deals with the psychology
of the characters—their inner thoughts, emotions, passions, and motives which generally remain
hidden in the mind of the characters.
EXAMPLE : The Turn of the Screw (1898) by Henry James,
8- Historical Novel:
Novels that reconstruct a past age, often when two cultures are in conflict Fictional characters
interact with historical figures in actual events Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832),the father of the
historical novel: The Waverly Novels (1814-1819) Ivanhoe (1819) Evokes the atmosphere of a
vanished era.
9- Mystery Novel
The mystery genre is the type of fiction in which the detective or other professional solves a
crime or series of crimes , it can also be appeared as a novel of short story this genre is called as
a detective novel. EXAMPLE AUTHOR : Dan Browns NOVEL : the Da-vinci code
10- Science Fiction
Science fiction is a type of literature that deals with inventive technologies, futurism, space travel
and exploration, and other science-based components. Science fiction texts are often set in the
future, in space, on a different world, or in a different universe or dimension.
Some well-known 20th century science fiction texts include 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New
World by Alduous Huxley, and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
11-Bildungsroman Novel (Coming of age novel)
“Bildungsroman” is German for “novel of education” or “novel of formation,” and it is a story
that traces the moral and psychological growth of its protagonist over time, with a focus on the
trials and misfortunes that affect the character's growth.Examples of bildungsroman include the
following:
Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Bronte,
Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by
Mark Twain, To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Le
