“The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling” is a classic novel by Henry Fielding that explores the themes of love, family, and social class. Fielding employs a range of literary devices, including humor, irony, and satire, to create a witty and engaging story that captivates readers. With its memorable characters, intricate plot, and masterful use of language, “Tom Jones” remains a beloved work of literature that continues to inspire and entertain readers to this day.
Love and Romance: The novel explores the theme of love and romance, with Tom Jones navigating a complex web of romantic relationships throughout the story.
Family and Parentage: The novel examines the theme of family and parentage, with Tom Jones being a foundling and seeking to uncover his true identity and parentage.
Social Class and Status: The novel delves into the theme of social class and status, with Tom Jones being born into poverty and navigating the complex social hierarchy of 18th-century England.
Morality and Ethics: The novel explores the theme of morality and ethics, with characters making moral choices and facing the consequences of their actions.
Friendship and Loyalty: The novel examines the theme of friendship and loyalty, with Tom Jones developing close relationships with several characters throughout the story.
Gender Roles and Expectations: The novel also explores the theme of gender roles and expectations, with female characters in particular facing societal pressures and restrictions.
Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽
Irony: The novel uses irony to create a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. For example, the character of Mrs. Waters is introduced as a potential love interest for Tom, but later is revealed to be his mother.
Satire: The novel uses satire to criticize and mock the societal norms and values of 18th-century England, such as the emphasis on social status and the treatment of women.
Foreshadowing: The author uses foreshadowing to hint at what may happen later in the story, creating suspense and tension and keeping the reader engaged.
Symbolism: The novel uses symbolic elements to represent abstract ideas or concepts, such as the pocket watch that serves as a symbol of Tom’s father.
Humor: The novel uses humor to create a lighthearted and entertaining tone, such as the comedic misadventures of the character of Partridge.
Allusion: The novel makes references to other works of literature, history, or mythology to add depth and meaning to the story, such as the allusion to the biblical story of Jacob and Esau.
Irony of situation: The novel uses irony of situation to create a contrast between what characters expect to happen and what actually happens, such as when Squire Western expects to force his daughter to marry his chosen suitor but she ends up eloping with Tom.
Pathos: The novel uses pathos to create an emotional connection with the reader, such as when characters face difficult choices or tragic circumstances.
Epistolary format: The novel uses an epistolary format, with characters writing letters to each other, to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy.
Characterization: The novel uses characterization to create vivid and memorable characters, such as the charming and impulsive Tom Jones or the stern and moralistic Mr. Allworthy.
Fielding alludes to Cervantes’ “Don Quixote” to draw parallels between Tom’s romantic nature and the idealism of the famous knight-errant.
FAQs 💭
What is irony, and how is it used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Irony is the use of language to create a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. In the novel, Mrs. Waters is introduced as a potential love interest for Tom, but later is revealed to be his mother, creating a sense of irony.
What is satire, and how is it used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Satire is the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize and mock societal norms and values. In the novel, Fielding uses satire to critique the emphasis on social status and the treatment of women in 18th-century England.
How is foreshadowing used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to suggest what may happen later in the story. In the novel, foreshadowing is used to create suspense and tension, such as when the identity of Tom’s father is hinted at throughout the story.
What is symbolism, and how is it used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Symbolism is the use of objects or elements to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In the novel, the pocket watch that serves as a symbol of Tom’s father is used to convey the importance of family and the quest for identity.
How is humor used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Humor is used to create a lighthearted and entertaining tone in the novel, such as in the comedic misadventures of the character of Partridge.
What is allusion, and how is it used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Allusion is the reference to other works of literature, history, or mythology to add depth and meaning to the story. In the novel, allusion is used to draw connections between Tom’s story and the biblical story of Jacob and Esau.
What is irony of situation, and how is it used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Irony of situation is the use of a contrast between what characters expect to happen and what actually happens. In the novel, the elopement of Sophia and Tom is an example of irony of situation, as Squire Western expects to force Sophia to marry his chosen suitor.
How is pathos used in “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”?
Pathos is used to create an emotional connection with the reader in the novel, such as when characters face difficult choices or tragic circumstances.
