"novels reflect the spirit of the age in which these are written"
Answers
Novels, like art and architecture, are among the highest forms of human endeavour. The end-product of this human effort does reflect the age. Hence, one refers to the Victorian era, the pre-independence era, post-colonialism era etc in referring to the literary works of those periods. The Pulitzer prize winner, Jhumpa Lahiri ( whose actual name is Nilanjana Sudeshna Lahiri), has written several books, most of which revolve around first generation Indians who emigrated to America and their children; many years later readers will refer to the period during and about which these were written.
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It is true that "novel reflects the spirit of the age." The poets and writers of a certain period give expression to the prevailing attitudes, preferences and inclinations, and the way of thinking. Actually novel is the mirror of society. It enables the society to see itself. Just like a person is able to see his or her face in a mirror. This means that people can recognize themselves novel of their times, in the same way as an individual can recognize himself or herself in a mirror. That is why it is said that novel reflects the spirit of the times.