The novel 'Clarissa' is an example of which literary form?

• A. Sonnet
• B. Drama
• C. Epistolary novel
• D. Epic poetry

Answer: (C)

An epistolary form is a narrative told through letters and documents written by the characters. Clarissa fits this because the entire story unfolds through exchanges of letters between Clarissa, Lovelace, and other correspondents, letting us experience thoughts and events through their private writings rather than a single narrator. This approach is what sets it apart from other forms: a sonnet is a compact 14-line poem with a fixed rhyme pattern, a drama is written to be performed as dialogue on stage, and epic poetry is a long narrative verse about heroic deeds. So the structure of Clarissa clearly exemplifies the epistolary novel.