Aspects of the NovelE. M. Forster's guide sparkles with wit and insight for contemporary writers and readers. With lively language and excerpts from well-known classics, Forster (author of A Passage to India, Howards End, and A Room With a View) takes on the seven elements vital to a novel: story, people, plot, fantasy, prophecy, pattern, and rhythm. He not only defines and explains such terms as "round" versus "flat" characters (and why both are needed for an effective novel), but also provides examples of writing from such literary greats as Dickens and Austen. Forster's original commentary illuminates and entertains without lapsing into complicated, scholarly rhetoric, coming together in a key volume on writing."Forster's casual and wittily acute guidance...transmutes the dull stuff of He-Said and She-Said into characters, stories, and intimations of truth."--Harper's |
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action aspect beauty become begin better called cause characters close comes complete connected course critic daily death dream effect emotional English everything examine example existence experience eyes facts fantasy feel fiction final flat follow give goes hands happens happiness heart human idea important interest James kind Lady lead lecture less light literature lives logic look means meet method mind Miss nature never novel novelist occurs once passed passion pattern perhaps person phrase play plot possible prophet Queen question reader reason relation remain rhythm round scene seems sense sentence side sometimes sort sound stand story talk tell thing thought tion touch true truth turn understand universe voice whole writer young