Why the Novel Matters
Understanding the Text
1. How does the novel reflect the wholeness of a human being?
Answer:
2. Why does the author consider the novel superior to philosophy,
science or even poetry?
Answer:
3. What does the author mean by ‘tremulations on ether’ and
‘the novel as a tremulation’?
Answer:
4. What are the arguments presented in the essay against the
denial of the body by spiritual thinkers?
Answer:
Talking about the Text
Discuss in pairs
1. The interest in a novel springs from the reactions of characters
to circumstances. It is more important for characters to be
true to themselves (integrity) than to what is expected of them
(consistency). (A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little
minds—Emerson.)
Answer:
2. ‘The novel is the one bright book of life’. ‘Books are not life’.
Discuss the distinction between the two statements. Recall
Ruskin’s definition of ‘What is a Good Book?’ in Woven Words
Answer:
Class XI.
Appreciation
1. Certain catch phrases are recurrently used as pegs to hang
the author’s thoughts throughout the essay. List these and
discuss how they serve to achieve the argumentative force of
the essay.
Answer:
2. The language of argument is intense and succeeds in
convincing the reader through rhetorical devices. Identify the
devices used by the author to achieve this force.
Answer:
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