Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding is considered as the first novel of English Literature. It is
described as a “comic – epic poem in prose” by the author himself in the preface to the novel. It was written in 1742 and portrays the realistic eighteenth century English society. While talking about the structure , form and style the author’s words say that “this form is not seen until and not intended before in the language”.

The narration of the novel follows a linear pattern eventhough certain digression or temporary departure is visible in certain chapters. The plot or the organization of events can be categorized into different parts such as Exposition ( initial stage), rising action, conflict / complication, climax, falling action and resolution or denoument. In this novel the protagonist Joseph Andrews was working as a footman for Mr Thomas Booby. This stage can be considered as the exposition of the novel. He was a good footman. Lady Booby had sexual desires in him and he was the talk of the London town. After Booby’s death, Lady Booby tried to show his passions towards him and he refuses. As a result Lady Booby fires him from the job.

Next in the rising action of the novel. He leaves , then hits the road in search for his love Fanny Goodwill. She is at Lady Booby’s country side far away from London. He passes through a maze of storms, ruffians and angry innkeepers. Ruffians attacks and strips his clothesleaving him naked in a ditch. All these events constitutes the rising action of the novel.

By a stroke of luck, Parson Adams turns into Joseph after his fatal injury. Once he heals up they plan to travel Booby country together. They face many problems and they solve. The parson forgets his horse, forgets to pay for his horse and fights with the innkeeper. Thus the conflict arises. They solve the problem and travel . In a way, he saves a woman who was being attacked by a stranger. That girl was Fanny Goodwill. But a group of strangers mistakes the two of them as criminals and submit them before the Justice of Peace. Here the plot reaches the peak of conflicts or climax. But another man identifies Parson Adams and saves them. After this some events occurs which were against Joseph and Fanny. The turning point occurs on the time when it is said that Joseph and Fanny to be siblings.

Lady Booby with the help of the lawyer Scout plans to throw Joseph and Fanny to Bridewell, a notorious prison to seperate them. These actions creates a falling action of the novel. Towards the end of the novel Pamela and her new husband Mr Booby arrives and prevents them from throwing into the Bridewell. The mysterious peddler who Joseph and Parson Adams met in the journey arrives and says that Fanny is actually Joseph’s parent’s daughter and Joseph is the son of Mr Wilson, who also met them in the journey. Thus the confusion settles and Joseph and Fanny finally gets hitched. Thus through this the novel reaches a resolution or denouement.

The work is divided into four books and the books into subsequent chapters. There are sixty four chapters altogether. The narration is linear eventhough there are certain digressions. These deviation from the main plot will not cause any harm to the novel. They were used by henry Fielding to give some examples about human passion and characteristics of the protagonist. The stucture is well organized and explanatory. While analyzing the structure it can be considered as a scientific research work. As a satire, which focuses on the the reality, mockery and the reformations of the society, Joseph Andrews follows this pattern of a research work. As a scientific work researches the reality, the writer experimented with the eighteenth century English society and the results are incorporated as this work. Subsequent tentative titles gives an impression about what is going to find in the following chapters like the title What Happened after Their Journey to London. Like the research is not for the researcher but for the betterment of the society Joseph Andrews also intends reformation of the society. The structure can also be considered as that of classical works which is about the general truths of human nature.

Henry Fielding said the structure a s ” comic – epic poem in prose” in the preface. Thus it possess certain epic like qualities. The division into books and further chapter division resembles epic like structure. Like the fable of epic the fable here is not supernatural but realistic. The action is mild but the fight between ruffians and Joseph and fight of Parson Adams to save Fanny are the actions like those found in epics. In terms of diction and language, allusions and referernces from various languages and use of archaic languages is apparent,like submissiveness of Mrs Trubiller is compared to the example of Sarah, wife of Abraham, Greek language references and references to Homer. In terms of themes also Joseph Andrews resembles epic like reformation of society from the ills of vanity, hypocricy and affectation and presentation of characters from the different classes of society.

The style is simple, explanatory and vivid and there is no artificial use of elevatory language or high vocabulary. Since the work is a satire on Samuel Richardson’s Pamela in which the emphasis of female chastity, in Joseph Andrews the emphasis of male chastity is presented in a humourous way. The vices are presented this humour and not in a didatic language rather it is suggestive. Through the letters to Pamela the novel possess epistolary style also. Joseph’s character is presented as a rougue of low social class as a footman and encounters in a bad world. So in this perspective the novel can also be considered as a picaresque novel. Eventhough Joseph Andrews was written when English novel was in it’s infancy, the well organized and explanatory srtucture and humourous elements makes the novel special.

Khaled Hosseini’s first novel ‘The Kite Runner’ opens the world of two friends and their never ending friendship. Through the stories of Hassan and Amir Hosseini portrays various themes like the search for redemption, the love and conflicts between father-son relationship, the social, political and racial background of Afghanistan. The way Hosseini portrayed Afghanistan is very much different from the stereotyped images of Afghanistan. For Hosseini Afghanistan was home, with the landscape, pomegranate trees and kite.

Many books have primarily focused on loyalty and friendship. But the friendship and relation between Amir and Hassan is different. The change in the attitude towards Hassan is the point where the search for redemption begins. In the beginning race and religion played a very integral role in their friendship. Hassan being a Hazara boy with a cleft lip, it was very difficult for him to be in that friendship. On the other hand Amir, the Pashtun boy with power and money he easily dominated Hassan. But he was unsuccessful in winning Abba’s heart. Abba’s love flowed to Hassan more than Amir. This also created a kind of hatred in the mind of Amir towards Hassan. Thus the friendship was a kind of master slave relationship back then. Hassan was loyal to Amir, no matter how much he ridiculed Hassan. Hassan gave first priority to Amir by saying that “for you a thousand times over”. But for Amir friendship was a kind of authority.

But towards the second half the relation between Amir and Hassan has a shift. From the hatred evolved from jealous, Amir now has a guilt feeling for Hassan. The guilt rised from the understanding that Amir wasn’t able to stand up for Hassan, when he needed that support. The betrayal questions the loyalty of Hassan every time. Finally the loyalty wins. Hassan not only saves Amir from his childhood, but saves him later also. When Amir struggles with regret and guilt the letter of Hassan saves him and leads to the path of redemption. The struggle faced by Amir on his way to save the son of Hassan, is considered as a kind of punishment for himself for the past betrayal. Finally Amir saves Hassan’s son Sohrab, which is a kind of redemption. The relation between Amir and Hassan is something special which unfold behind the kites.

While analyzing the themes of Charles Dickens’s 1859 historical fiction, A Tale of Two Cities it is apparent that the author has incorporated variety of themes in the novel. Through the beginning lines “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . .” the chaotic society of eighteenth society is well depicted by Dickens. Even though the characters in the novel do not engage in many conversations, their actions strengthens the themes of this work.
Resurrection or rebirth is the major theme of the novel, which is presented from the beginning to the end of the novel. The first important resurrection is that of Sydney Carton’s. Sydney Carton’s resurrection and sacrifice gives new life to Lucie and her family. Carton is portrayed as a Christ like figure who dies to save the lives of the people he loves and reborn in their minds. The theme of resurrection comes again with respect to Dr Alexandre Manette, who is reborn into his previous life, from imprisonment and mental illness, with the love of his daughter Lucie. In Jerry Cruncher’s life also we can see the resurrection, who leaves the job of grave digging for his loved ones. These are the resurrection in
personal level. In the societal level, we can see the old status of France appears to give way to New France with the sacrifice of many revolutionaries. The revival of peace and a better society echoes throughout the novel. Sacrifice is the next dominant theme in A Tale of Two Cities . On a personal level sacrifice of Sydney Carton is most strongly visible. He gives importance to the happiness of Lucie and family and this encourages him to sacrifice his life. Carton does not have a family of his own and he lead an unproductive life throughout, so he haven’t offered much to the world. So he believes this act of sacrifice will redeem everything and make his life meaningful. Next factor which strengthens the theme of sacrifice is the revolution. Revolutionaries sacrifice their life to give a new society.
Violence and oppression is the next major theme. Even though Dickens’s seems to support the revolution, he emphasizes the sufferings caused by violence. Dickens sympathizes with the peasantry and emphasizes the need for liberation. But the strategy of peasants for overcoming this situation causes more violence and death of many innocent humans. The scenes of people sharpening their weapons in the grindstone, senseless killings of people and dance with weapons emphasizes the theme of violence and oppression.

Since the background of the novel is eighteenth century society Social Inequality and Class conflict are the next important theme. There are two classes in France, the peasants and the aristocrats. The aristocrats are portrayed as lazy, irresponsible, spoiled and heartless who does not have any regard for the peasants or lower section of the society. The social inequality is evident in the incident of the rape of the peasant woman by Marquis. And when the Marquis killed the son of Gaspard he is not subjected to any legal proceedings because he is from the aristocracy. The storming of Marquis’s castle is the symbol of the fall of aristocracy. Towards the end the situation reverse. The violent measures by the peasants arises as a result of long suffering. Even though Dickens supported revolution he portrayed both social class as equally violent and oppressive.
The theme of justice is intertwined with discrimination and injustice. Justice is presented literally by trails and imprisonments in the plot. The imprisonments of Darnay and Dr Manette are example of innocent people being subjected. As said earlier after the death of the son of Gaspard Marquis is not subjected to any legal proceedings. At this occasion justice is taken by individuals, like murder of Marquis by Madame Defarge as a revenge against Everemonde family.

Apart from these major themes Dickens focuses on themes of duality like light v/s darkness love v/s hatred with the comparison of two countries and the actions of the people there. While England remained as peaceful country, France goes through intense revolution. The contrast between these countries is progressed through the novel which intensifies the theme of light v/s darkness. Dr. Manette has been locked away in a dark prison for many years and lost his mind. Charles Darnay is struggling to right the wrongs done by Evremonde family. Sydney Carton is living his life unproductive and feels he has no purpose. So Lucie is the person who is considered as the light in their lives, who lead them to recovery and bring them out of darkness.

Revolution is the next major theme which is clearly apparent throughout the novel. The revolution and it’s impact on lives of many people is clearly portrayed. The sinners and innocent people, both are equally affected by revolution. The reversal of roles are the next theme. Towards the end of the novel the peasants who were poor in the beginning become more barbaric and cruel. And as a result of this the aristocrats suffer at the end. So this is an example of reversal of roles among peasants and aristocrats. On another level the replacement of Darnay by Carton in the prison is also an example for the reversal of roles. Apart from these, themes like family preservation, fate, love and hate are also included by Dickens. Through these themes author clearly reflects the society of eighteenth century.