Outline essay plans

'Eighteenth-century novels offered a wide range of relationships between authors and readers.' Discuss.

OUTLINE ESSAY PLAN

1. Introduction

General consideration of authors and readers in 18th C - putting emphasis on different types (to cover the 'wide range' mentioned in rubric). The 'relationships' might cover different narrative strategies [first and third person narratives] as well as authors' attitudes to their readers.

2. Example One - discussion and evidence

3. Example Two - discussion and evidence

4. Example Three - discussion and evidence

5. Conclusion

Return to general considerations of 'relationships', but relate your observations to the examples discussed.

Background reading for the assignment

• Author's known statements regarding public readership.
• Reader's responses in terms of criticism or purchase of the text.
• Author's possible adjustments to the text as a result of 'reader feedback'.
• Author's production of further texts following a success.
• The production of second and third editions, and re-printings.

ORIGINAL QUESTION

'The novel in the eighteenth-century examines radical questions of a social, economic, and sexual nature.' Discuss.

OUTLINE ESSAY PLAN

1. Introduction

General consideration of some social, economic, and sexual questions raised by some eighteenth-century novels - putting emphasis on 'radical' to cover the point raised in the rubric. Keep in mind the origins of these issues in society itself.

2. Example One - discussion and evidence

3. Example Two - discussion and evidence

4. Example Three - discussion and evidence

5. Conclusion

Return to general consideration, but relate it to the examples discussed. Relate all the argument to the social context of 18th century Britain.

Background reading for this assignment

• Social history of the period
• Literary criticism related to the chosen texts
• Factual historical evidence related to social, economic, and sexual matters

ORIGINAL QUESTION

'What do we learn from a study of the critical reception of one of the following novels: The Mysteries of Udolpho, Humphrey Clinker, Evelina, The Old Manor House, Caleb Williams, Memoirs of Emma Courtney?' You should not attempt to deal with a period of longer than fifty years, and your chosen period may be shorter.

OUTLINE ESSAY PLAN

1. Introduction

General consideration of the conditions of literary production and reception in the eighteenth century, taking into account the nature of 'criticism' and its status at that time.

2. Selected text

• Author's possible 'intentions' in writing
• Critical comments following first publication
• Possible reference to author's manuscripts if they exist
• Publication details of re-prints or further editions
• Possible information on advertising
• Take into account the status or nature of the sources of critical opinion
• Critical comments related to author and text following first edition

3. Conclusion

Return to general consideration of 'what we learn' from the critical reception, but relate it to the example discussed (avoid over-generalising).

Background reading for this assignment

The Critical Heritage series will be an invaluable source, but you should not place all your reliance on it. This question is expecting you show evidence of some original research.

To locate alternative sources, follow bibliographic references in different critical editions of the novel in question.