The extract “Modern Fiction” belongs to a collection of critical essays (the Common Reader) written by Virginia Woolf.

The novellist’s aim is to introduce a different way for writing novels.

The extract is organised in 2 sequences.

The function of the first one is to explain to the reader why the traditional novels are no longer suitable for Virgina Woolf’s period. According to her opinion writers are not free: they are not able to express the real essence of life because they are slaves of traditional standard.

Virginia Woolf wants to go beyond these convenctions in order to write a novel that explains what life is really like.

In the second sequence Virginia Woolf explains her point of view on life and novels. She wants to be free, without chains, that’s why she criticises the use of a plot. On the other hand she adopted the stream of consciousness and the interior monologue: these technical devices are functional for Virginia Woolf’s way of writing.