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The Story

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Summary

Summary of E.M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel

  • Fundamental Aspect: The story is the backbone of a novel, essential for its existence.
  • Allegiance to Time: Novels must adhere to a timeline; unlike daily life, where time can be disregarded.
  • Suspense: The story must create a desire to know what happens next, akin to Scheherazade's storytelling technique.
  • Narrative Structure: A story is defined as a narrative of events arranged in time sequence.
  • Two Lives: Daily life consists of 'the life in time' and 'the life by values'; novels should encompass both.
  • Literary Devices: Authors may manipulate time (e.g., Emily Bronte, Sterne, Proust) but must maintain a coherent narrative.
  • Audience Engagement: The effectiveness of a story is judged by its ability to engage the audience's curiosity.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the fundamental aspect of the novel as its story-telling aspect.
  • Analyze the significance of time in the narration of a story.
  • Discuss the relationship between daily life and the narrative structure of novels.
  • Explore the concept of suspense as a literary tool in storytelling.
  • Examine the dual allegiance of life in time and life by values as presented in novels.

Detailed Notes

The Story

Fundamental Aspect of the Novel

  • The fundamental aspect of the novel is its story-telling aspect.
  • Different perspectives on what a novel does:
    • First Voice: Vague and indifferent, sees a novel as simply telling a story.
    • Second Voice: Aggressive and straightforward, emphasizes the importance of a good story.
    • Third Voice: Reflective and regretful, acknowledges the necessity of storytelling in novels.

Allegiance to Time

  • Novels have an imperative allegiance to time; they cannot deny it.
  • Daily life may not require this allegiance, as shown by mystics' experiences.
  • Examples of authors manipulating time in novels:
    • Emily Bronte: Tried to hide the clock in Wuthering Heights.
    • Sterne: Turned the clock upside down in Tristram Shandy.
    • Marcel Proust: Altered the hands of the clock to create simultaneous events.

The Nature of Story

  • A story is a narrative of events arranged in time sequence.
  • The story's merit lies in making the audience want to know what happens next.
  • The story can fail if it does not engage the audience's curiosity.

Life in Time vs. Life by Values

  • Daily life consists of two aspects:
    • Life in Time: Events occur in a sequence.
    • Life by Values: Measured by intensity rather than time.
  • Example: "I only saw her for five minutes, but it was worth it" reflects both allegiances.

Conclusion

  • The story is the backbone of a novel, essential for its existence.
  • It connects to human curiosity and the need for suspense, as illustrated by Scheherazade's tale.

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes and Exam Tips

Common Pitfalls

  • Vagueness in Understanding Novels: Students often provide vague answers about what a novel does, failing to articulate the significance of storytelling.
  • Ignoring the Importance of Time: Many overlook the imperative role of time in a novel's structure, which can lead to misunderstandings of the narrative.
  • Neglecting the Role of Suspense: Failing to recognize how suspense drives the narrative can result in a lack of appreciation for the author's craft.

Tips for Success

  • Be Specific: When discussing novels, provide clear definitions and examples of how storytelling functions within the text.
  • Focus on Time: Always consider how time influences the events in a novel and the reader's experience.
  • Analyze Suspense: Pay attention to how authors create suspense and how it affects character development and plot progression.

Practice & Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions

A.

To enhance character development

B.

To keep the audience engaged

C.

To provide thematic depth

D.

To improve the language of the novel
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster suggests that suspense is crucial in storytelling as it keeps the audience engaged and wanting to know what happens next.

A.

A tree

B.

A backbone

C.

A river

D.

A mountain
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster uses the analogy of a backbone to describe the story's role in a novel.

A.

As an optional element

B.

As the backbone of the novel

C.

As a decorative aspect

D.

As a minor component
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster describes the story as the backbone of the novel.

A.

Humor

B.

Suspense

C.

Romance

D.

Tragedy
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Scheherazade used suspense to keep the king wondering what would happen next, thus avoiding her execution.

A.

The story ignores the concept of time

B.

The story is independent of time

C.

The story is a narrative of events in time sequence

D.

The story manipulates time to confuse the reader
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Forster defines a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence, emphasizing the importance of time in storytelling.

A.

The ticking of a clock

B.

The growth of a tree

C.

Scheherazade's storytelling

D.

A painter's brush strokes
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Forster uses the analogy of Scheherazade, who used suspense to keep the king engaged and save her life, to explain the importance of suspense in storytelling.

A.

Character development

B.

Suspense

C.

Descriptive language

D.

Moral lessons
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Scheherazade primarily relied on suspense to keep the king wondering what would happen next, thus ensuring her survival.

A.

Melody

B.

Perception of truth

C.

Story-telling

D.

Character development
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Forster emphasizes that the fundamental aspect of a novel is its story-telling aspect, which is the highest factor common to all novels.

A.

Its story-telling aspect

B.

Its character development

C.

Its thematic depth

D.

Its linguistic style
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Forster emphasizes that the fundamental aspect of a novel is its story-telling aspect, as it is the backbone of the narrative.

A.

Chronological events and emotional significance

B.

Historical accuracy and moral lessons

C.

Scientific facts and philosophical ideas

D.

Daily routines and spiritual beliefs
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Forster contrasts 'the life in time', which refers to chronological events, with 'the life by values', which refers to the emotional and experiential significance of events.

A.

Its ability to entertain

B.

Making the audience want to know what happens next

C.

Its educational value

D.

Its complexity
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster states that the only merit of a story is making the audience want to know what happens next.

A.

Metaphor

B.

Suspense

C.

Allegory

D.

Irony
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Scheherazade used suspense as her primary literary device to keep the king interested in her stories, thus ensuring her survival.

A.

Its complexity

B.

Its ability to make the audience want to know what happens next

C.

Its use of symbolism

D.

Its reflection of reality
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster states that the primary merit of a story is to make the audience want to know what happens next.

A.

A narrative of events arranged randomly

B.

A narrative of events arranged in their time sequence

C.

A narrative of events arranged by importance

D.

A narrative of events arranged by location
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster defines a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence.

A.

They were indifferent to stories

B.

They were engaged only by the story's suspense

C.

They were focused on the language used

D.

They were interested in character development
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster describes the primitive audience as being engaged by suspense, wanting to know what happens next, and losing interest once they guessed the outcome.

A.

It is irrelevant to novel writing

B.

It is the only aspect that matters in novels

C.

It is included in good novels along with the life in time

D.

It is a concept only applicable to daily life
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Forster suggests that a good novel includes both the life in time and the life by values, using various literary devices.

A.

A narrative focused solely on chronological events

B.

A narrative that includes themes measured by intensity rather than time

C.

A narrative that excludes emotional depth

D.

A narrative that strictly adheres to factual accuracy
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster describes 'the life by values' as a narrative that includes themes measured by intensity, not just chronological time.

A.

By telling stories with suspense

B.

By pleading with the king

C.

By escaping from the palace

D.

By using magic
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Scheherazade survives by telling stories that keep the king in suspense, making him eager to hear the next part, thus delaying her execution.

A.

It is too complex

B.

It makes the audience not want to know what happens next

C.

It lacks depth

D.

It is too philosophical
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster notes that a story can have only one fault: making the audience not want to know what happens next.

A.

Its story-telling aspect

B.

Its character development

C.

Its use of language

D.

Its setting
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Forster emphasizes that the fundamental aspect of a novel is its story-telling aspect.

A.

As an optional element

B.

As an essential framework

C.

As a confusing distraction

D.

As a philosophical concept
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Forster asserts that time is an essential framework in a novel, as it provides the structure for the narrative sequence.

A.

Novels can exist without the concept of time

B.

Time is an unnecessary construct in novels

C.

Time is imperative in novels as they narrate events in sequence

D.

Time is only a minor aspect of novels
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Forster argues that time is imperative in novels because they narrate events in a time sequence.

True or False

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster asserts that the fundamental aspect of a novel is its story-telling aspect, which is the highest factor common to all novels.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster uses Scheherazade's story to emphasize that suspense is the only literary tool that has any effect on tyrants and savages.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster compares the story to a tape-worm, emphasizing its continuous and essential nature in a novel.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster argues that the story is the fundamental aspect without which a novel could not exist.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Scheherazade survived by keeping the king in suspense, which was her main strategy to avoid execution.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster states that a novelist must adhere to the time sequence to avoid becoming unintelligible.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster describes the story as the lowest and simplest of literary organisms, not a noble aspect.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Scheherazade avoided execution by stopping her stories at an interesting point each night, ensuring the king wanted to hear more.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster uses Scheherazade's story to highlight how suspense is crucial for keeping an audience engaged.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Scheherazade's success was due to her ability to maintain suspense, not her descriptions or moral lessons.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Scheherazade survived by keeping the king wondering what would happen next, relying primarily on suspense.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster argues that a novelist must adhere to the sequence of time within a novel, as it is integral to the narrative structure.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster uses the analogy of a backbone or tape-worm to describe the story aspect of a novel, emphasizing its fundamental but unlovely nature.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster argues that a novel must adhere to the sequence of time, as it forms the backbone of the story.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

The stories in The 1001 Arabian Nights are linked by Scheherazade's continuous storytelling to the king.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster describes the story as unlovely and dull when isolated from the nobler aspects of a novel.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster describes the story as the lowest and simplest of literary organisms, despite being the highest factor common to all novels.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster argues that a novel must have an allegiance to time, as it is imperative for the narrative structure.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster states that the story is the highest factor common to all novels, despite its simplicity.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster describes the story as the lowest and simplest of literary organisms, emphasizing its basic nature.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster argues that a novel must include a narrative of events in time sequence, as time is an essential element.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster acknowledges that while the story is fundamental, a good novel also includes the 'life by values' beyond just the narrative of events.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster argues that a novelist must adhere to the concept of time within their novel to avoid becoming unintelligible.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster describes the story as the simplest and lowest literary organism, despite being a fundamental part of novels.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster states that the story is the fundamental aspect without which a novel could not exist, making it the highest factor common to all novels.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster emphasizes that the story-telling aspect is fundamental to a novel, as it is the highest factor common to all novels.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Forster defines a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence.

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Forster explains that daily life reflects a double allegiance to 'the life in time' and 'the life by values'.

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Scheherazade survived by keeping the king in suspense with her stories, making him eager to hear what happens next.