Concetti Chiave
- Daniel Defoe, born in 1660, is regarded as the founder of the English novel and was a prominent journalist and pamphleteer.
- Initially involved in trade and politics, Defoe was arrested in 1703 due to his ironic writings but was released to serve the Tory party.
- Defoe's notable contribution to journalism was The Review, which paved the way for modern newspapers.
- Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, is a famous adventure novel that follows a shipwrecked plantation owner on a desert island.
- The novel is an autobiographical account with a realistic style, divided into three parts, and has been interpreted as a religious allegory.
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)
English novelist, pamphleteer and journalist, Daniel Defoe is considered the founder of the English novel. He was born in London in 1660 and he mainly wrote for the middle classes (traders, merchants, artisans). Although his father wanted him to become a minister, Defoe worked in trade: he became a merchant and he travelled around Europe. In the meantime he also became interested in politics. Because of his irony towards Anglicans, Defoe was arrested in 1703, but was released in return for services as a pamphleteer and intelligence agent to the Tory party.
His most remarkable achievement in journalism is the periodical The Review, a precursor to the modern newspaper. Defoe didn’t start writing prose fiction until 1719, when he published The life and strange adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner, which was based partly on the memories of voyagers and castaways and which brought him fame. Defoe died in 1731, at the age of 71.
Robinson Crusoe (novel)
Robinson Crusoe is probably the most famous adventure story in English literature. It tells about a plantation owner, who travels from Brazil to Africa with other plantation owners to procure slaves to work for them. On this journey he is shipwrecked off a desert island; he’s the only survivor and remains there until he’s released 28 days later.
Robinson Crusoe is divided in three parts. In the first part we are told something about Crusoe’s life. The second part of the book it’s in the form of a journal in which Crusoe writes about life on the island and how he uses his skills to overcome the difficulties of his situation. In this part of the book Crusoe encounters a savage whom he calls Friday and whom he resolves to convert to Christianity. He teaches him something about language and culture, and how to use a gun to hunt and defend himself from attacks. The final part of the book tells of Crusoe’s rescue. He return to Brazil with Friday and he finds his plantation flourished and made him rich.
Like Defoe’s other novels, Robinson Crusoe is written in the first person, in the form of an autobiography. The style of the narrative is very matter of fact (realistic): Crusoe gives us no access to his thoughts and he mainly talks about his actions. The story is a sort of diary and there’s no real novelistic plot. The book has been interpreted as a religious allegory.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Quién es considerado el fundador de la novela inglesa?
- ¿Qué llevó a Daniel Defoe a ser arrestado en 1703?
- ¿Cuál es la estructura de la novela "Robinson Crusoe"?
- ¿Cómo se caracteriza el estilo narrativo de "Robinson Crusoe"?
Daniel Defoe es considerado el fundador de la novela inglesa, conocido por su obra "Robinson Crusoe".
Defoe fue arrestado en 1703 debido a su ironía hacia los anglicanos, pero fue liberado a cambio de servicios como panfletista y agente de inteligencia para el partido Tory.
"Robinson Crusoe" está dividida en tres partes: la vida de Crusoe, su diario en la isla, y su rescate y regreso a Brasil.
El estilo narrativo de "Robinson Crusoe" es realista y en primera persona, similar a un diario, sin acceso a los pensamientos del protagonista, centrándose en sus acciones.
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