• Introduction
- Aspects of the Novel was originally a lecture series (Clark Lectures, Cambridge University, 1927).
- Forster didn’t focus on history or themes but on how to read a novel critically.
- He believed that novels are flexible, unlike poetry or drama, and can freely express emotions, social context, psychology, etc.
“The novel, unlike poetry or drama, has no rigid form… it is the freest literary form.”
• The Author and His Works
About E.M. Forster:
- Born 1879 – Died 1970. British novelist and critic.
- Known for both his fiction and literary criticism.
- Famous novels:
- A Passage to India (1924)
- A Room with a View (1908)
- Howards End (1910)
- Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905)
Major Works:
- Criticism: Aspects of the Novel (1927)
- Other writings: Abinger Harvest, Two Cheers for Democracy, travel books, and biographies.
• Aspects of the Novel – Summary
This is the core of the unit. Forster explores 7 aspects of the novel – not rules, just tools for better reading.
Introductory Ideas:
- Defines a novel as: “a fiction in prose of a certain extent.”
- Warns against narrow reading:
- Critic must not be “provincial.”
- Must go through books, not around them (i.e., not by just genre, period, or theme).
- Reason for the title Aspects: vague, flexible word that allows different ways of reading.
Seven Aspects of the Novel
➥ 1. The Story
- The most basic element of any novel.
- Keeps readers hooked with: “What happens next?”
- Example: One Thousand and One Nights – Scheherazade keeps her husband curious by ending every tale with suspense.
Key Point: A novel without a story is lifeless. But a story alone isn’t enough — it must be told well.
➥ 2. People / Characters
- Forster focuses on flat vs. round characters:
| Type | Features | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | Simple, 1-2 traits, predictable, static | Dickens’ comic characters |
| Round | Complex, multi-dimensional, capable of change | Jane Austen’s protagonists |
- A novel isn’t just about events but about “to whom it happens.”
- Good characters feel real — readers may relate to them more than real people.
Key Quote: “The characters in a novel must seem real — more real than the people we meet.”
➥ 3. The Plot
- Story = events in sequence.
- Plot = events + cause and effect.
Example:
- “The king died, and then the queen died.” → story
- “The king died, and the queen died of grief.” → plot
- Plot demands intelligence and memory from the reader. It also reflects themes and values.
Plot vs Story (Russian Formalist View):
- Sjuzet: arranged plot
- Fabula: raw story
➥ 4. Fantasy
- Imagination beyond ordinary life: magic, myth, fable, fairy-tale.
- Can exist without actual magic, too — in odd coincidences or dream-like logic.
- Brings wonder or exaggeration — e.g., Dickens, Austen’s coincidences, or even sci-fi.
➥ 5. Prophecy
- A deeper, spiritual, symbolic layer in a novel.
- Authors like Dostoevsky give their characters a universal, prophetic quality — they stand for something larger.
- Requires the reader to be humble and open to understanding big ideas about life, morality, society.
➥ 6. Pattern
- The overall structure/design of the novel.
- Can be circular (starts and ends same place), symmetrical, etc.
- Should emerge organically, not mechanically.
➥ 7. Rhythm
- Recurring motifs or images (with variations) that create emotional harmony.
- Like a musical rhythm — echoes, memories, repetition with a twist.
Example: Repeated references to a phrase or object that changes in meaning over time.
• A Critical Appreciation
- Aspects of the Novel is not a rulebook but a guide for intelligent reading.
- It is:
- Lucid and conversational.
- Open-minded (does not follow one rigid school).
- Focused on reader’s pleasure, not just academic analysis
• The Novel as a Reflection of Society
- Novels mirror culture, society, politics, gender roles, history — both realistically and imaginatively.
- Writers like Bankim (Anandamath) and Nahal (Azadi) show society through fiction, but not like a history textbook — rather, as an artistic reflection.
Key point: Novels can both reflect and critique the society they come from.
• Conclusion
- Forster gives us 7 flexible aspects to approach any novel.
- These help us understand structure, characters, deeper meanings, emotions, and social values.
- Aspects of the Novel is a starting point for anyone who wants to seriously study literature.