A Psychological Counter-Current In Recent Fictio
William Dean Howells’ Psychological Counter-Current in Recent Fiction is a collection of essays that explore the psychological aspects of literature. Howells examines the works of authors such as Henry James, Joseph Conrad, and Edith Wharton, and discusses how their works reflect the psychological state of their characters. He also looks at the influence of psychology on the development of the modern novel. Howells argues that the psychological elements of literature are essential to understanding the characters and their motivations. He also examines the use of symbolism and imagery in literature, and how these elements can be used to convey psychological states. Finally, Howells looks at the role of the reader in interpreting psychological elements in literature.
By William Dean Howells · First published 1920 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Realism · 9 chapters · 7,162 words
First lines
It is consoling as often as dismaying to find in what seems a cataclysmal tide of a certain direction a strong drift to the opposite quarter. It is so divinable, if not so perceptible, that its presence may usually be recognized as a beginning of the turn in every tide which is sure, sooner or later, to come. In reform, it is the menace of reaction; in reaction, it is the promise of reform; we may take heart as we must lose heart from it. A few years ago, when a movement which carried fiction to the highest place in literature was apparently of such onward and upward sweep that there could be no return or descent, there was a counter-current in it which stayed it at last, and pulled it back to that lamentable level where fiction is now sunk, and the word "novel" is again the synonym of all that is morally false and mentally despicable. Yet that this, too, is partly apparent, I think can be shown from some phases of actual fiction which happen to be its very latest phases, and which are of a significance as hopeful as it is interesting. Quite as surely as romanticism lurked at the heart of realism, something that we may call "psychologism" has been present in the romanticism of the last four or five years, and has now begun to evolve itself in examples which it is the pleasure as well as the duty of criticism to deal with.
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A Psychological Counter-Current In Recent Fiction is listed on Textopian as an essay by William Dean Howells, dated 1920 CE.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: William Dean Howells
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Realism, Romance
- Length: 7,162 words
- Structure: 9 chapters, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Psychological Counter-Current In Recent Fiction by William Dean Howells
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Genres
- Psychological Fiction — The title of the book suggests that it is a psychological exploration of recent fiction.
- Literary Fiction — William Dean Howells is a renowned literary author, so this book is likely to be a work of literary fiction.
- Realism — William Dean Howells is known for his realistic writing style, so this book is likely to be a work of realism.
- Romance — William Dean Howells is known for writing romantic stories, so this book may contain elements of romance.
Tags
American · Authors · Criticism and interpretation · Fiction · Literature · Science Fictiondrama · art · author · book · boston · character · charm
Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI
- CHAPTER VII
- CHAPTER VIII