Epistolary Technique (Literary Terms Related to Fiction)

Epistolary Technique

The epistolary technique is a literary device where a story is told through documents such as letters, diary entries, newspaper clippings, or emails. This method allows for multiple perspectives and offers intimate insights into characters' thoughts and feelings, enhancing readers' understanding of the plot and characters. The use of personal documents creates a sense of authenticity and immediacy, with the narrative unfolding through these exchanges.

The term "epistolary" comes from the Greek word for letter. Letters predate novels, so early novelists included letters to add realism and psychological insight. The first English novel composed entirely of letters is Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister (1684) by Aphra Behn. Samuel Richardson popularized the epistolary novel in the 18th century with works like Pamela and Clarissa, using letters to enhance realism and immediacy.

Richardson's novels sparked a trend for epistolary novels, evident in early Canadian and American novels. Tobias Smollett's The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker (1776) is notable for its use of letters from multiple characters, providing diverse viewpoints on the same events.

The epistolary novel declined in popularity by the 19th century, but notable examples like Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) used a mix of documents to create suspense. Epistolary novels can be monophonic (one character's letters), dialogic (two characters' letters), or polyphonic (multiple characters' letters).

Modern examples of the epistolary form include C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters (1942) and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary (1996). Contemporary novels often incorporate emails and texts, like Julie Schumacher's Dear Committee Members and Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad.

Variations of the epistolary form appear in film, such as "found footage" movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. Real-time texts and emails in films also owe a debt to Richardson's technique of "writing to the moment."