+THE PICARESQUE CONVENTION: form of prose fiction originating in Spain in the 16th century, dealing with the adventures of rogues, dishonest people.
+PURITANISM: encouraged a practical attitude to world affairs. It also avdocated the belief in the individual conscience, a love of truth.
+THE RISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS: a new and large reading public (18th century)
+THE NOVEL. JANE AUSTEN: wrote about a quiet prosperous middle-class world. She belongs to the Romantic era, she is quite Neoclassical in spirit.
+THE NOVEL. SIR WALTER SCOTT: his early weath and fame was based on his poetry. He became a highly influential novelist throughout Europe.
+THE GOTHIC NOVEL: contained stories which were macabre, fantastic and supernatural. It set in haunted castles, ruins and graveyars.