Charles Dickens and the Rise of the Novel: Key Authors & Social Context
Charles Dickens and the Evolution of the Novel
Charles Dickens is a pivotal author, renowned both in England and internationally. Born in Portsmouth, he spent much of his life in London and did not receive formal education until age nine. His famous novels include Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol.
A novel can be defined as:
- “A fictitious prose narrative or tale presenting a picture of real life, especially of the emotional crises in the life-history of the men and women portrayed”
US Society and Literature: Post-War to Digital Age
Unit 1: The War and After
Depression ends in 1941. 1930-1945 WWII. From 1939/1940, Americans thought that the war was not their problem. So they went from isolationism at that time and then they opted for interventionism. The incident of Pearl Harbor was decisive. The whole country turned into a war country. This war economy improved the industrial boom and prosperity. They vanquished unemployment. The factories turned into war factories. The USA army grew from 1.5 million soldiers to 15 million
Read MoreRenaissance Prose and Theater: Machiavelli to Cervantes
Renaissance Thought and Prose
The Renaissance marked a shift from the Middle Ages, adapting Greco-Roman classics to modern times. This required rethinking all aspects of life through the lens of humanism. This need led to new models of thought in prose, distinct from those of the Middle Ages. In Europe, the most influential thinkers from Italy were Niccolò Machiavelli and Baldassare Castiglione.
- Niccolò Machiavelli: In his work, *The Prince*, Machiavelli argues that the end justifies the means,
Joseph Cadalso’s Moroccan Letters: 18th-Century Spain
Joseph Cadalso’s *Moroccan Letters*: An Insight into 18th-Century Spain
Letters of Joseph Cadalso, also known as *Moroccan Letters*, is a work written in the 18th century. It coincides with the Enlightenment, a cultural movement born in France, based on reason as the primary way of acquiring knowledge. The Enlightenment rejected the ideas of the Old Regime, making way for new forms of thought, the “lights.” Some of its most outstanding features are:
- The promotion of science and the experimental method.
Literary Genres: Types, Subgenres, and Examples
Literary Genres: An Overview
Literary genres are the different categories an author can use to present their work, depending on their desired approach and subject matter.
Types of Genres
Lyric Genre
Lyric poets express their inner selves, conveying their feelings and presenting the reader with intimate personal experiences and their perception of the world. Verse is often used, but poetic prose is also an option.
Dramatic or Theatrical Genre
The author sets the scene with characters who interact to develop
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Modernism and Generation of ’98
Key Works and Authors of Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Rubén Darío – “Blue” (Azul…)
Theme: The poet seeks the secret of poetry, asking his fairy muse for guidance.
Summary: The poet reflects on poetry, yearning to uncover its mysteries. He asks his fairy muse for help, and she leads him on a journey of discovery. She shows him a golden garden, the dawn, and the freshest flowers, but he desires more. Finally, the sight of a beautiful woman’s face provides the ultimate inspiration.