Q: Four Wheels of the Van of the English Novel are:
a) Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, Tobias Smollett, Laurence Sterne
b) Daniel Defoe, Richardson, John Donne, Laurence Sterne
c) John Dryer, Pope, Milton, Fielding
d) Smollett, Joseph Addison, Sterne, Richardson
Correct answer: a) Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, Tobias Smollett, Laurence Sterne
Four Wheels of the Van of the English Novel | Smollett, Joseph Addison, Sterne, Richardson
The English novel proper came into being in the eighteenth century. Its four originator were Samuel Richardson(1689-1751), Henry Fielding(1706-1754), Tobias Smollett(1721-1771), Laurence Sterne(1713-1768). These four novelists are called "The Four Pillar or the Four Wheels of the Van of the English novel". They bought this new genre to such maturity that it became the glory of England.
- Samuel Richardson (1689- 1751)
Samuel Richardson's first novel "Pamela, or the Virtue rewarded" was published in two volumes in 1740. With this method of developing the plot, Richardson started a new type of novel called the "Epistolary Novel".
- Henry Fielding ( 1707- 1754)
Henry Fielding was the greatest of this new group of novelists. He is called the father of the English Novel. He founded Picaresque novel. The Adventures of Joseph Andrews (1742) was his first novel. In his novels, we get for the first time a closely-knit organic plot. Other novelists learnt the art of plot construction from him.
- Tobias Smollett ( 1721-1771)
Tobias Smollett is the third Pillar or the third wheel of the Van of the English novel. He was a Scottish poet and author. He was best known for his Picaresque novels. His style is vivid and lively. It is forceful and masculine. His method could be easily imitated. Dickens followed him.
- Laurence Sterne ( 1713-1768)
Laurence Sterne was the fourth pillar or the fourth wheel of the Van of English Novel. His first novel was "The life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy". It appeared in nine volumes from 1759 to 1767. His second novel "A Sentimental Journey" combines fiction, sketches of travel, miscellaneous subjects and essays.
Richardson had given Sentimentality, Fielding Humour, Smollett Likeness and Sterne Impressionism.
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