THE DEVELOPMENT OF REALISM IN EARLY ENGLISH NOVELS

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “INTEGRATION OF MODERN LINGUISTICS WITH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION: NEW APPROACHES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES”, DECEMBER 4, 2025 378 THE DEVELOPMENT OF REALISM IN EARLY ENGLISH NOVELS Yusupova Munisa, Shodmonova Charos, Yo'ldosheva Sevara Navoi State University The faculty of English language and literature https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17811023 Annotatsiya. Ushbu maqolada ilk ingliz romanlarida realizmning shakllanishi yoritiladi. Unda yozuvchilar romantik tasvirlardan voz kechib, kundalik hayotni haqqoniy aks ettirishga qanday o‘tganlari tushuntiriladi. Shuningdek, Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson va Henry Fieldingning asarlari tahlil qilinib, ular yaratgan realistik obrazlar, ijtimoiy muhit va hikoya qilish uslublarining adabiyot rivojiga ta’siri ko‘rsatiladi. Maqola realizmning paydo bo‘lishiga sabab bo‘lgan tarixiy va madaniy omillarni ham ko‘rib chiqib, bu ilk romanlar keyingi realist adabiyot uchun mustahkam zamin yaratganini ta’kidlaydi. Kalit so'zlar: Realizm, ilk ingliz romanlari, Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, narrativ uslub , ijtimoiy muhit , ma’naviy-psixologik tasvir, XVIII asr adabiyoti Аннотация: В статье рассматривается развитие реализма в ранних английских романах, а также переход писателей от романтизированных сюжетов к более правдивому изображению повседневной жизни. Анализируются произведения Даниэля Дефо, Сэмюэла Ричардсона и Генри Филдинга, которые внесли вклад в создание реалистичных персонажей, социальных условий и детализированных повествовательных приёмов. Также обсуждаются исторические и культурные факторы, способствующие возникновению реализма, и показывается, как эти ранние романы стали основой последующей реалистической литературы. Ключевые слова: Реализм, Ранний английский роман ,Даниэль Дефо,Сэмюэл Ричардсон, Генри Филдинг, Повествовательные приёмы ,Социальная среда,Психологизм ,Литература XVIII века Annotation: This article explores the development of realism in early English novels, focusing on how writers of the 18th and early 19th centuries shifted from romanticized storytelling to more truthful representations of everyday life. It highlights the contributions of authors such as Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, and Henry Fielding, who introduced detailed character psychology, social settings, and realistic narrative techniques. The study also examines the historical and cultural factors that shaped the rise of realism and shows how these early works laid the foundation for later realist literature. Keywords: Realism, Early English novel, Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, Narrative technique, Social environment, Psychological depth, Eighteenth-century literature The rise of realism in early English novels marked a turning point in the history of literature. Before the eighteenth century, most prose narratives were filled with imagination, fantasy, or heroic adventures. They described worlds that were far from everyday life. However, with writers like Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, and Henry Fielding, English fiction slowly began to focus on ordinary people, real situations, and believable experiences. This shift laid the INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “INTEGRATION OF MODERN LINGUISTICS WITH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION: NEW APPROACHES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES”, DECEMBER 4, 2025 379 foundation for the modern novel as we know it today. One of the earliest writers to introduce realistic elements was Daniel Defoe. His famous novel Robinson Crusoe portrays the story of a man stranded on an island. What makes it realistic is not just the plot, but the detailed descriptions of Crusoe’s daily struggles, fears, and problem-solving. Defoe wrote in a diary-like style, making readers feel as though they were reading a true account rather than a fictional story. He focused on practical details, human emotions, and survival — things that were relatable to ordinary readers of his time. Another major contributor to the development of realism was Samuel Richardson, whose novel Pamela introduced a new kind of storytelling. Richardson wrote in the form of letters, which made the characters’ thoughts and feelings seem more genuine. Pamela centers on a simple young woman who tries to protect her virtue. Through her letters, readers see the emotional reality of a woman facing social pressure. Richardson’s attention to psychological depth and inner conflict brought realism to a new level, showing that fiction could explore the private world of a character just as deeply as real life. Henry Fielding continued the movement toward realism but added humor and social criticism. In novels like Tom Jones, he depicted different classes of society—rich landowners, servants, travelers, and criminals. Fielding’s characters were lively, flawed, and human. He observed society with sharp eyes and used storytelling to expose hypocrisy and moral issues. His works demonstrate that realism is not only about portraying everyday life, but also about showing society honestly, with all its strengths and weaknesses. Beyond the contributions of Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding, the growth of realism in early English novels was also influenced by broader cultural changes taking place in eighteenth-century Britain. The rise of the middle class created a new group of readers who were interested in stories that reflected their own lives, struggles, and values. Increased literacy rates, the spread of printing presses, and the development of periodicals made reading more accessible to ordinary people. As a result, writers began to focus less on aristocratic adventures and more on everyday moral issues, domestic life, and personal identity. This shift in readership played a crucial role in shaping the realistic style, encouraging authors to portray life with greater accuracy, emotional honesty, and social awareness. Additionally, the shift toward realism was supported by the growing interest in documenting human behavior scientifically. Thinkers of the Enlightenment encouraged observation, rational thinking, and the study of everyday human actions. This intellectual movement inspired novelists to portray characters not as idealized heroes, but as complex individuals shaped by their environment, emotions, and choices. As a result, early English novels became a space where authors experimented with detailed descriptions, moral reflections, and realistic dialogue, further strengthening the foundations of the realistic narrative tradition. Moreover, early English novelists began to experiment with narrative techniques that made their stories feel more lifelike. They used detailed settings, realistic conversations, and carefully structured plots to mirror real social situations. Many writers also introduced moral dilemmas that ordinary people faced, such as economic hardship, family conflict, or social expectations. By grounding their characters in recognizable social environments, these authors helped readers form emotional connections with the narrative, making the emerging realistic style both relatable and influential. As the eighteenth century progressed, realism became more refined and widespread. Writers began paying attention not only to individual characters but also to the environments that INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “INTEGRATION OF MODERN LINGUISTICS WITH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION: NEW APPROACHES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES”, DECEMBER 4, 2025 380 shaped them—social class, education, gender roles, and economic hardships. Everyday settings such as homes, villages, workplaces, and streets became important parts of the narrative. This focus on the ordinary world helped readers understand how society influenced personal decisions and behavior. The early realistic novel, therefore, served both as entertainment and as a subtle form of social commentary, preparing the ground for later authors like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Conclusion: In conclusion, the emergence of realism in early English novels transformed literature by bringing it closer to real life. Writers like Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding introduced new techniques—detailed description, psychological depth, everyday language, and social observation. Their contributions shaped the novel into a form that could explore human behavior and society in an authentic way. Because of them, the novel became not just a form of entertainment, but a mirror of life itself. REFERENCES 1. McKeon, Michael. The Origins of the English Novel, 1600–1740. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002. 2. Richetti, John. The English Novel in History: 1700–1780. London: Routledge, 1999. 3. Doody, Margaret Anne. The True Story of the Novel. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1996. 4. Hunter, J. Paul. Before Novels: The Cultural Contexts of Eighteenth-Century English Fiction. New York: W.W. Norton, 1990. 5. Spacks, Patricia Meyer. Rise of the Woman Novelist. 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