The narrator in Tom Jones describes the novel as "prosai-comi-epic".

This
definition characterizes the novel a Tom Jones can be said to be an epic novel, in
that there is a clear central protagonist who is faced with numerous physical and
emotional challenges to reach his goal. Also, as Tom is a lovable rogue whose
adventures include description of his various travels and the places
When telling the story, the narrator generally uses third-person omniscient point of view, enabling
him to reveal the thoughts of the characters. When commenting on the story, the narrator uses
first-person point of view, sometimes in the singular and sometimes in the plural, as in the following
paragraph:
Although the narrator upholds the value of natural art in his characters, he uses
artifice himself in the construction of his novel. For example, he often closes
chapters by hinting to the reader what is to follow in the next chapter, or he warns
the reader that he is going to omit a scene.
Motifs Food
The narrator invokes the motif of food in relation to the process of writing, the
process of reading, love, and war. He begins the novel by referring to himself as a
Restauranteer who will provide the reader with a feast. He later defines lust as a
person's appetite for a good chunk of white flesh.
Travel Where the narrator opens the novel with a reference to food, he concludes
the novel with a reference to travel, casting himself as the reader's fellow traveler.
This represents the culmination of a travel motif throughout the novel. As the
characters journey from the country to the city, the narrator includes himself as a
fellow traveler, remarking that he will not plod through the journey, but will hasten
and slow down as he pleases.
It is hard denying that the narration is the most important part of the novel. Every
book starts with a formal introduction from the narrator (which many critics thought
added unnecessary volume to the novel). The narrator enters a scene and then
seldom leaves. The narration seems to be intended to ensure an opencommunication with the readers.
Narrator is an extremely witty, intelligent, interesting and educated citizen of the
society. He constantly amuses and allures the audience. The narrator shows a
conscious, father-like attitude towards the characters, readers and even the society.
Also, the narrator, at certain stances, becomes a teacher, a philosopher, a guide
and even a pal. Enlightening the audience is an important aspect of narration. For
this, the narration makes use of satire and irony.
Fielding has insisted that his work Tom Jones is based upon realism, but the
characters in the novel are more theatrical than anything. Even before becoming a
writer, Fielding was a dramatist, so the influence of drama is notably seen
throughout his works.

The reproduction of the social environment, the true realist fiction by definition has a strong reality.
Authors through people, the environment, events such as the description, representation of the story
occurs, the social conditions and economic environment, class differences, thus allowing the reader to the
social life at that time .
This description and reproduction of the real social environment, writing style, realistic writing style is an
important feature. Into the eighteenth century, many writers perspective from the traditional myth, history,
legend, heroism turned to lives of ordinary people, planing to make the material began to lives of ordinary
people-centered. 'Tom Jones' is among a highly representative works of literary realism in an exemplary
manner.
Epic Journey Toward Manhood
.......The central theme of the novel is the amusing epic journey of Tom Jones toward maturation, selfrealization, and union with his beloved. Jones begins his journey as a mischievous adolescent, continues it
as an adventurous and reckless teenager, and concludes it as a mature and morally upright adult who
settles
down
as
a
husband
and
father.
.......The hero confronts perils and undergoes trials before completing his journey. In this respect,
Fielding's hero is like the hero of Homer's Odyssey, the great epic poem recounting the adventures of
Odysseus
on
his
way
home
after
the
Trojan
War.
.......There is an important difference, however, between the recounting of Tom's journey and the
recounting of the journey of Odysseus: The former is comical and playful; the latter is deadly serious,
with an elevated tone
There is no doubt to the fact that the excellence of Henry Fieldings novels lies in his
unique and unconventional narrative style
Second, Tom Jones incorporates elements of the picaresque novel, which originated in Spain. A
picaresque features a roguish hero (picaroin Spanish) and is episodic and more loosely structured than an
epic. A picaresque is literally "one thing after another," and the only unifying thread may be that all events
befall the central character.
Picaresque novel: Novel about the episodic adventures of a vagabond hero. Tom
Jones experiences many episodic adventures while traveling from one place to
another.
A distinguishing feature of the style is the way narration is handled, with an
intrusive narrator who frequently makes self-reflexive comments on the progress of
the story and the characters therein
Bildungsroman: Novel about the coming of age, or maturation, of the main
character. In Tom Jones, the title character undergoes character development while
growing up in the country, experiencing adventures while traveling, and searching
in
London
for
the
young
lady
he
loves.
Epic Journey: Long narrative about the main character's struggles and adventures
while traveling from one place to another. Tom Jones is a long narrative about the
struggles
and
adventures
of
a
traveling
protagonist.
Mock Epic: Literary work that uses the elevated style of a classical epic (such as
Homer's Odyssey or Virgil'sAeneid) to describe a trivial or insignificant event. The
result is a comic or satirical passage
Romance: (1) Narrative about the adventures of a chivalric hero who often is in love
with a noble lady; (2) narrative that emphasizes love. Tom Jones battles villains,
rescues a damsel in distress, and is in love with a noble lady.