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.

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.

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.