ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded is an epistolary novel first published in 1740 by English writer Samuel Richardson. Considered one of the first true English novels, it serves as Richardson’s version of conduct literature about marriage.

Detailed explanation-2: -In Pamela, Samuel Richardson teaches a religious lesson through Pamela’s pride in virtue, love through purity, and ultimately forgiveness of others. He presents his character as rigorously devoted to God, which often makes her seem vain, manipulative, selfish, and hypocritical.

Detailed explanation-3: -Pamela Andrews is a 15-year-old servant. On the death of her mistress, her mistress’s son, “Mr. B, ” begins a series of stratagems designed to seduce her. These failing, he abducts her and ultimately threatens to rape her.

Detailed explanation-4: -What is Samuel Richardson known for? Samuel Richardson is known inventing the epistolary novel (novel in form of letters). He wrote three well-known epistolary novels, Pamela, or, Virtue Rewarded, Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady, and The History of Sir Charles Grandison. Pamela is the first epistolary novel.

Detailed explanation-5: -’Epistolary’ means a story written in the form of letters, sometimes with diary entries. Through an exchange of letters we follow 15-year-old Pamela, a maidservant, as she is terrorised and imprisoned by Mr B, a nobleman, libertine and the son of her recently deceased mistress.