Videolezione - Il romanzo sociale

Summary

The social novel is a literary genre born in the 19th century, focusing on the struggles of marginalized social classes and depicting their daily lives within a specific historical context. These novels often feature complex plots with a blend of improvement and deterioration, tackling economic and social issues. Originating from the Industrial Revolution, notable works include 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens and 'Germinal' by Émile Zola. The genre continues in the 20th century, with authors like Ignazio Silone and Roberto Saviano addressing political and social injustices through vivid portrayals of disadvantaged communities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Social novels highlight the harsh realities of deprived, degraded, and miserable societal conditions.
• 😀 The genre focuses on ordinary people from different social classes, often facing economic or social challenges.
• 😀 Social novels typically involve a complex plot that transitions from a starting situation to a rarely positive ending, with improvement or worsening along the way.
• 😀 The protagonists in social novels are depicted in everyday life, facing struggles like economic hardship or marginalization.
• 😀 Collective characters, representing broader social groups, often feature in social novels.
• 😀 The stories are set in specific historical eras, providing both context and perspective on the protagonists' daily lives.
• 😀 Social novels often serve as a social denunciation, criticizing injustices in society.
• 😀 The narrative style is usually dry and sparse, with the use of dialect and popular expressions to reflect the realities of the characters' lives.
• 😀 The genre emerged in the first half of the 19th century, influenced by the social and economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution.
• 😀 The genre was pioneered by Honoré de Balzac, especially with his cycle of novels 'La Comédie Humaine'.
• 😀 Notable examples of social novels include 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens and 'Germinal' by Émile Zola, as well as Italian works like 'I Fontamara' by Ignazio Silone and 'Gomorra' by Roberto Saviano.

Q & A

What is the main focus of a social novel?

A social novel primarily focuses on portraying the lives of ordinary people, particularly from disadvantaged social classes, through the lens of their everyday struggles, including economic hardship and social marginalization.

What is the typical structure of a social novel?

The typical structure of a social novel involves the transition from an initial situation to a rarely positive final situation. This involves processes of improvement or worsening as the narrative unfolds.

How are the characters in a social novel generally depicted?

The characters in a social novel are typically ordinary people from various social classes. They are well-characterized and portrayed through their everyday lives, often facing problems related to economic issues or social marginalization.

What role do collective characters play in social novels?

Collective characters, representing broader societal groups, often appear in social novels. These characters help to reflect the collective struggles or social dynamics of the time period being depicted.

What historical context is typically present in a social novel?

Social novels are usually set in a specific historical era, often the time period of the author, and they highlight the struggles of disadvantaged environments. The narrative tends to include detailed descriptions of daily life to reflect the context of that era.

How does a social novel function as a form of social denunciation?

A social novel often serves as a form of social denunciation by critiquing the social conditions and inequalities faced by its characters. It calls attention to societal issues such as poverty, injustice, and exploitation.

What distinguishes the prose style of social novels?

The prose style in social novels is often dry and sparse. It frequently includes dialect terms and popular expressions, emphasizing the authenticity and realism of the characters' lives and the environments they inhabit.

Who is considered the initiator of the social novel genre?

The initiator of the social novel genre is Honoré de Balzac, particularly through his series of novels titled 'La Comédie Humaine,' which explored the social structures and complexities of French society.

Can you name some famous works in the social novel genre?

Some famous works in the social novel genre include 'The Adventures of Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens, 'Germinal' by Émile Zola, and in more modern times, works like 'I Fontamara' by Ignazio Silone and 'Gomorra' by Roberto Saviano.

What is the relationship between social novels and historical novels?

Both social novels and historical novels share a focus on a specific time period, but while historical novels primarily aim to reconstruct the past, social novels often critique the social conditions and moral issues of the time, using ordinary people’s struggles as a lens for social commentary.