Fielding is often considered one of the most significant contributors to the development of the English novel. His nearly seamless incorporation of drama, satire, romance, and epic into his works helped distinguish the novel as a new and unique genre quite distinct from its early
influences. Fielding's long and bitter feud with rival novelist Samuel Richardson also contributed to the development of the novel form: opposed to the didactic tone and unrealistic characters and situations of his contemporaries, Fielding infused the novel with compassion, comedy, and a heightened sense of realism. His comic sense is deep and sometimes under it very serious themes may appear. Although Fielding's lasting reputation rests on his major novels, he was also a popular
and important playwright, an influential journalist, and one of England's leading judicial reformers.
In all of his writing, Fielding demonstrated a concern with social and moral hypocrisy, attacking not only Richardson but also dramatist and Poet Laureate Colley Cibber and Prime Minister Robert Walpole for what he considered their failure to deal openly with serious social issues, whether in literary works or as a government official. Nowadays his novels and his humor became popular again and in this work author is going to look deeply in one of the comic literary works”The History
of Tom Jones, a Foundling”.
Table of Contents
1. HENRY FIELDING: BIOGRAPHY AND LITERARY WORKS
2. CRITICAL RECEPTION
3. TOM JONES: THE MAIN POINTS
4. COMIC PROSE EPIC
5. COMIC OR IRONY?
6. FIELDING’S COMEDY
7. COMIC SPIRIT FOR FIELDING
8. TOM JONES CONCEPT IN COMIC
Research Objectives and Themes
This work aims to provide a comprehensive literary analysis of Henry Fielding’s masterpiece, "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling," by examining its narrative structure, moral philosophy, and its significant contribution to the development of the English novel as a unique literary genre.
- The biographical background and literary career of Henry Fielding.
- The evolution of the "comic epic in prose" and Fielding’s narrative techniques.
- Characterization, social satire, and moral themes within "Tom Jones."
- The synthesis of irony, comedy, and realism in Fielding’s writing.
- The influence of drama and theatrical structure on the construction of the novel.
Excerpt from the Book
3. TOM JONES: THE MAIN POINTS
Tom Jones (1729), the novel generally considered Henry Fielding’s masterpiece, richly lives up to the generic formula he earlier applied to Joseph Andrews: it is a fully developed “comic epic in prose”. The subject-matters it treats epi-comically are very precisely those of the Bildungsroman (the novel of growing up or maturation) and the novel of moral and social testing and education. As implied in its full title, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, a central issue is the true parentage of Tom and thus of his personal, familial and class identity, so that the novel has affinities with traditional romance where obscurities and suddenly resolving clarifications of true identity are common, and also looks forward to mystery fiction.
Allusively divided into eighteen books (halfway between Virgil and Milton’s twelve and Homer’s twenty-four), Tom Jones is the very opposite of “formally realistic” in the sense in which that phrase is applied to the “realistic” fiction of the eighteenth century. It is narrated from an external or third-person, omniscient point of view in elevated (sometimes mock-epical), oratorically expansive, complexly ironical prose by an “implied author” who is seen by many critics as the novel’s most fascinating “character.” This narrator is an overt, directing, judgmental presence and “voice” throughout, taking sides (Tom, benevolence and prudence over Blifel, malevolence and cunning), chatting with the reader as he narrates Tom’s history, and claiming as his own the opening chapter of each Book, wherein he directly addresses the reader on subjects of his choosing, including the purposes and the superiority of his story-telling.
Summary of Chapters
1. HENRY FIELDING: BIOGRAPHY AND LITERARY WORKS: This chapter outlines Fielding’s background, his early career in drama, and his transition into becoming a foundational figure of the English novel.
2. CRITICAL RECEPTION: This section explores how critics across the centuries have perceived Fielding’s work, shifting from historical scorn to modern appreciation of his literary skill and moral vision.
3. TOM JONES: THE MAIN POINTS: This chapter analyzes the core themes, narrative voice, and structural complexity that define Fielding’s masterpiece as a "comic epic in prose."
4. COMIC PROSE EPIC: This section discusses Fielding’s theoretical approach to the novel, emphasizing his self-imposed rules for narrative technique and his use of prefaces.
5. COMIC OR IRONY?: This chapter investigates the balance between irony and comedy in the plot construction of "Tom Jones," highlighting the intricate design of the narrative.
6. FIELDING’S COMEDY: This section defines Fielding’s distinct style of comedy, comparing it to classical theories and noting its focus on the ludicrous aspects of human folly.
7. COMIC SPIRIT FOR FIELDING: This chapter examines the "Comic Spirit" as a tool for moral education and its embodiment in the characterization of the novel's protagonists.
8. TOM JONES CONCEPT IN COMIC: This final analytical chapter focuses on the contrasting character pairs and the dramatic structural elements that drive the plot of "Tom Jones."
Keywords
Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, English novel, comic epic in prose, literary criticism, narrative technique, omniscient narrator, moral philosophy, satire, Bildungsroman, characterization, eighteenth-century literature, irony, comedy, literary history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work provides an in-depth literary analysis of Henry Fielding, focusing primarily on the structure, themes, and innovative narrative voice in his most famous novel, "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling."
Which thematic areas are highlighted in the book?
Key thematic areas include the development of the English novel, the interplay between morality and comedy, the influence of dramatic forms on fiction, and the satirical critique of 18th-century social norms.
What is the primary research goal of the text?
The goal is to analyze how Fielding established the "comic epic in prose" and how his unique perspective on human nature and social structure shaped the modern novel form.
What scientific or analytical methods are applied?
The author utilizes literary analysis, historical contextualization, and structural examination of the narrative, drawing upon critical theory and the comparison of Fielding’s work with his contemporaries.
What topics are covered in the main section of the book?
The main section covers Fielding's biography, his dramatic and literary influences, the formal construction of "Tom Jones," his theory of the "comic epic," and the role of the omniscient narrator.
What are the primary keywords that characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, narrative technique, comic epic, irony, satire, and moral philosophy.
How does Fielding’s background in drama influence "Tom Jones"?
Fielding’s dramatic experience influenced the intricate plot structure, the use of "visual" symbols, and the distinct, character-driven dialogues that provide a sense of theatrical staging to the narrative.
What does the author conclude about Fielding's legacy?
The author concludes that while Fielding's specific structural methods may be unique, his greatest legacy is the invention of the authorial narrative voice and the establishment of the novel as a sophisticated comic genre.
- Quote paper
- Oksana Lesovaja (Author), 2009, The Comic in Henry Fielding's ”The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/125182
