With the publication of Robinson Crusoe in 1719 the novel became
established as a significant literary genre. In this connection Daniel Defoe
set new standards for a long period. With his The Life and Strange
Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe he laid the foundations of the
contemporary Robinsonade. “With its common hero, pseudo-authentic
style, and focus on ideological problems of materialism and individualism,
it has been widely seen as the first modern realist novel” 1, the critic David
Fausett writes. But in the history of interpretation there are dissensions
about Defoe’s role in the development of the novel. His style although it
revolutionised the English novel, first was a topic for extensive
discussions.
From Maximillian E. Novak we get to know that “many of Defoe`s critics
have regarded his fiction as a kind of accident arising from his desperate
need to support his family and to keep off his creditors.“2 In the Rise of the
Novel Ian Watt goes so far as to say that Defoe “is perhaps a unique
example of a great writer who was very little interested in literature, and
says nothing of interest about it as literature.“3 In contrast Hammond
underlines the novel’s “lasting significance” that “surely lies in its
consummate blending of divergent literary traditions and its fruitfulness as
a source of myth.“4 Furthermore he concludes that “a story that has
achieved the status of a fable must possess considerably literary and
imaginative qualities and respond to some deep need in the human
psyche.“5
Because there must be something in Defoe’s style and narrative technique
that justifies the novel’s position in literature some critics have already
tried to find an explanation for Defoe’s role in the rise of the novel. [...]
1 Fausett, David. 1994. The Strange Surprizing Sources of ’Robinson Crusoe’. Amsterdam:
Rodopi, p. 25.
2 Novak, Maximillian E. “Defoe`s Theory of Fiction.“ In: Heidenreich, Regina und Helmut, eds.
1982. Daniel Defoe: Schriften zum Erzählwerk. (Wege der Forschung. Vol. 339). Darmstadt:
Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, p. 182.
3 Watt, Ian. 1957. The Rise of the Novel. Berkeley, p. 70.
4 Hammond, John R. 1993. A Defoe Companion. MD: Barnes & Noble, p. 67.
5 ibid., p. 67.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Genre
- 2.1 Desert Island Fiction
- 2.2 Religious Allegory
- 3. Structure
- 4. Narrative Situation
- 5. Language and Style
- 5.1 Fictional Realism
- 5.2 Tone
- 5.3 Vocabulary
- 5.4 Figures of Speech
- 5.4.1 Motifs
- 5.4.2 Metaphors
- 5.4.3 Images
- a) Animal Images
- b) The Double Image of the Island
- 5.4.4 Irony of Situation
- 6. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Daniel Defoe's narrative techniques in Robinson Crusoe, examining its genre, structure, narrative situation, and language and style to understand its lasting significance in English literature. The analysis seeks to address conflicting interpretations of Defoe's literary merit and contribution to the development of the novel.
- Genre classification of Robinson Crusoe (desert island fiction and religious allegory)
- Analysis of the novel's structure and narrative situation
- Examination of Defoe's language and style, including fictional realism, tone, vocabulary, and figures of speech
- Exploration of the interplay between religious themes and the narrative
- Assessment of Defoe's narrative skill and its impact on the novel's enduring appeal.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of Robinson Crusoe's publication in 1719 and its impact on the novel as a genre. It highlights contrasting critical opinions on Defoe's literary merit, ranging from assessments of his work as accidental to those recognizing its lasting significance and skillful blending of literary traditions. The chapter sets the stage for a deeper analysis of Defoe's narrative techniques and the novel's genre, structure, and stylistic features.
2. Genre: This chapter delves into the genre of Robinson Crusoe, exploring its classification as both desert island fiction and religious allegory. It defines genre conventions and their importance in critical reading, emphasizing the inherent non-originality of literary creations. The chapter discusses the key characteristics of desert island fiction—isolation, survival strategies, the relationship between nature and civilization, and the spiritual experience of solitude—and explains how these are interwoven with the religious allegorical aspects of the novel.
Keywords
Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe, narrative technique, desert island fiction, religious allegory, fictional realism, 18th-century novel, literary genre, narrative style, English literature.
Frequently Asked Questions: Robinson Crusoe Language Analysis
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive language preview of an academic analysis of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The aim is to offer a structured overview of the analysis, facilitating understanding of its scope and approach.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of Robinson Crusoe?
The analysis explores several key themes, including the genre classification of Robinson Crusoe (as both desert island fiction and religious allegory), the novel's structure and narrative situation, Defoe's language and style (covering fictional realism, tone, vocabulary, and figures of speech), the interplay between religious themes and the narrative, and an assessment of Defoe's narrative skill and its impact on the novel's enduring appeal.
What aspects of Defoe's language and style are examined?
The analysis examines Defoe's fictional realism, tone, vocabulary, and figures of speech (including motifs, metaphors, imagery—specifically animal imagery and the double image of the island—and irony of situation). The analysis aims to understand how these elements contribute to the overall impact and effect of the narrative.
How is the genre of Robinson Crusoe classified?
The analysis classifies Robinson Crusoe as belonging to two genres: desert island fiction and religious allegory. It examines the conventions of each genre and how they intersect within the novel.
What is the structure of the analysis itself?
The analysis is structured into chapters covering an introduction, genre, structure, narrative situation, language and style (with subsections on fictional realism, tone, vocabulary, and figures of speech, further subdivided to include specific elements like motifs and imagery), and a conclusion.
What are the main objectives of the analysis?
The main objective is to analyze Daniel Defoe's narrative techniques in Robinson Crusoe, examining its genre, structure, narrative situation, and language and style to understand its lasting significance in English literature. It also aims to address conflicting interpretations of Defoe's literary merit and contribution to the development of the novel.
What keywords describe the analysis?
Key words associated with this analysis include: Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe, narrative technique, desert island fiction, religious allegory, fictional realism, 18th-century novel, literary genre, narrative style, and English literature.
What is included in the chapter summaries?
The document provides concise summaries for each chapter. The introduction sets the context, the genre chapter explores the dual classification of the novel, and further chapters delve into the narrative elements and stylistic choices employed by Defoe.
- Quote paper
- Carolin Damm (Author), 2004, Defoe's Narrative Technique in Robinson Crusoe, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/35255
