Contents

What do you understand by Novel? What are the elements which are to considered in plot construction.

What is a novel? Discuss basic elements of plot construction of a novel.

A novel is a long narrative story. Generally, a novelist takes an idea on incidence and construct his plot on the basis of the idea or incidence. He takes some characters and expand his idea around it. So it may be said that the story element is, therefore, essential to the novel. Daniel Defoe is considered the first novelist of English literature. The novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’ is called the first novel in the history of English literature. Some critics consider it a large adventure story instead of a novel. But young people still read it as they read a dim novel, skipping its moralizing passages and hurring of on to more adventures, but they seldom appreciate the excellent mature reason which banish the dime novel to a secret place in the haymow, while Crusoe’ hangs proudly on the Christmas tree or holds an honoured place on the family book shelf. After Defoe, there are lot of novelist appeared in the field of English literature such as Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, Smollett, Sterne, Goldsmith, Jene Austen and so on.

Plot Construction

Plot construction is the first and the basic element of a novel. Though all the novelists have different ideas about the plot construction of a novel yet, they are unanimous that plot construction is an essential part of a novel. According to critics, there must be following characteristics in the plot construction of a novel :

(i) Well Knitted Plots: The plot of a novel must be well knitted. There should be nothing superfluous or irrelevant in a good novel. The plot should be marked with simplicity, symmetry and precision. There should be no superfluous or obtrusive characters, no episodes which obstruct the progress or movement of novel and also no loose ends left dangling at the end. There must be complete interdependence between main plots and sub-plots. There must be a perfect organic unity of interplay between characters and events.

(ii) Blending of Main and Sub-plots: The sub-plots are essential to organic whole and contribute to the progress of the main plot. So, a true inter-linking is necessary of the main plot and sub-plots. The essential craftmanship of a novelist lies in his deft and skilful handling of the various strains and always keeping these sub-plots subordinate to the main plot. These sub plots serve many purposes. They break the monotony of one main story. They serve as foil by providing either contrast or variety to heighten the effect. So, it is essential for a novel that its main plot and sub-plots must be well blended.

(iii) Symmetry of Plot: The action of the novel takes place at many sets of places. Various events and occurrences in a novel should be balanced each other to give symmetry to the plot. Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and prejudice’ is a fine example of symmetry of a novel. The Visit of Bringley and Darcy at Netherfield shows the beginning promises and hope but ends in failure and the other visit at Netherfield by Bingley and Darcy apprehends trouble and gloom but ends in fulfillment.

Similarly, there are two surprise marriage symmetrically placed-one towards the beginning, between Charlotte and Collins and the other between Lydia and Wickham towards the end. So ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is a an evidence of Jane Austen’s craftsmanship.

(iv) Sequence of Events: A story of a novel naturally deals with a series of events through which the story develops towards culmination. There may be a number of events, but these events must follow a natural logical course. The sequence of events may be observed well in Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’. The arrival of Bingley and Darcy and Netherfield Park not only brings Elizabeth and Darcy together but also starts the conflict between the pride of Darcy on one hand and prejudice of Elizabeth on the other.

(v) Dramatic Element: Dramatic element is another characteristic of plot constructions. Dramatic element helps in development of the story. Sir Walter Scott calls it, “The action of Novel should be carried forward through short scenes in dialogues. This dramatic element can be observed well in all the novels of Jane Austen.

(vi) Harmony between Character and Action: A successful and accomplished novelist strives to establish and maintain harmony between character and action. Jane Austen is, without any doubt an accomplished artist and a successful novelist. As we examine Pride and Prejudice’, we find-that Jane Austen has maintained the harmony. and correspondence between her characters and action of the novel. A good Plot should exclude coincidences as far as possible. But, there are some coincidences in the novel, but they do not obtrude on the aesthetic sense of the reader.

(vii) Unity of Theme: There must be unity of theme or plot in a good novel. There must be a central theme and all other sub-plots or themes should be constructed around it. In ‘Pride and Prejudice’, love and marriage is the central theme and three sub-plots are well knitted around it.