ENGL 3524 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Beezus Quimby, Ring Lardner, Mary Mapes Dodge
Document Summary
As the word domestic implies, such a novel is about home life and family. Generally the family"s status is middle-class in order to appeal to the widest audience. It is of primary importance that characters come to life because plot is unimportant, almost nonexistent, in the domestic novel. The books are often strings of incidents that enhance the various personalities and attributes of the characters. The domestic novel deals with the realities of a child"s life: the child alone, the child as member of the family/group dynamics, the child and school, the child and society, the child growing up. Many domestic novels of the 19th century and early 20th employed a certain amount of sentimentality, usually a blend of pathos and humor. Frequently the popularity of the characters would give rise to various sequels. Some examples: e. nesbit"s bastable books; alcott"s little women; Wiggins" rebecca of sunnybrook farm; estes" the moffats; montgomery"s.
