Which of the following landmark critical ideas regarding early fiction is directly linked to Defoe's style in 'The Rise of the Novel' by Ian Watt?
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Correct answer: 'Formal realism'—the premise that the novel is a full, authentic report of human experience
Ian Watt coined the term 'formal realism' to describe how Defoe and his successors broke from traditional literary conventions. Instead of using generalized archetypes and idealized settings, Defoe anchored his stories in specific geographical locations, precise dates, and realistic domestic items. This technique made the fictional narrative read exactly like a real-world legal deposition or news report.
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