Addison and Steele - Part C

  • Addison is the pioneer of the English novel. Discuss. [NU. 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020]

/Discuss "The Coverley Papers" as the precursor/sketch of the English novel. [N.U. 2012]

/Discuss Addison's contribution to English fiction.

/“The Coverley Papers foreshadows the English novel” — Elucidate.

"The Coverley Papers" is a collection of essays selected from the 18th century daily called "The Spectator" by Addison and Steele .It is considered the precursor/sketch of English novel. Though “The Coverley Papers" is not a complete novel, we can say that it foreshadows the English novel. For this reason, it is said that Addison was a pioneer of the English novel.

Novel is fictional writing about people and events. The Coverley Paper by Addison and Steele is a combination of some notable essays. But it has characterization, story, incidents, dialogue, and a social picture. These are the most demandable aspects of a novel. Very often, while reading a paper from The Coverley Papers, we have the feeling as if we were reading a page from a novel.

"The Coverley Papers" is remarkable for its characterization. It has been accepted that the most important aspect of a novel lies in its characterization. Great novels always have great characters. In these papers, we get some impressive characters. Sir Roger de Coverley is one of them. Addison has represented this character as vivid and life-like. Will Honeycomb, Sir Andrew Freeport, Captain Century, the Chaplain, and other such minor characters are well-drawn. Roger de Coverley has been characterized as kindly, generous, charitable, and possessing a good sense of humor. But he is eccentric, absurd, and weak. In fact, these qualities of his character make him more human. Thus, Addison's characterization is indeed a great step towards the novel.

A novel demands a realistic picture of a particular society. It is often the interpretation of life. The Coverley Papers gives us a realistic picture of the then society. Addison has represented the vivid and actual social picture before our eyes. He was a reformer and a satirist. He criticizes many things in his contemporary society. But he does not interpret them clearly.

Another important feature of a novel is dialogue. The dialogues in these essays are occasionally bright and stimulating. For example, Sir Roger's talk about the widow creates the illusion of real life. As well as, the scene in the church reads like a chapter from a novel. The narrative quality of the novel is also found in these essays. They appeared as a story before the readers. For example, The Spectator's Account of Himself appeared like an autobiographical novel.


In conclusion it can be said that "The Coverley Papers" is undoubtedly a precursor of the English novel as it contains the traits of a novel. Addison is rightly called the pioneer of the English novel as he has applied certain features of a novel in his essays very successfully.