Who termed the novel ‘a new province of writing’ that was ‘a comic epic-poem in prose’?

Correct option is E

The phrase "a comic epic-poem in prose" was coined by Henry Fielding to describe the novel. Fielding used this term in the preface to his novel Joseph Andrews (1742), where he defined his own literary style and the emerging novel form. Fielding emphasized that the novel, like an epic poem, could combine grandeur with a satirical examination of human behavior, presenting both humor and critical insight.

• (a) Joseph Addison: A prominent essayist and co-founder of The Spectator, Addison was influential in literary criticism but did not coin the phrase.
• (b) Henry James: Renowned for his psychological realism, Henry James contributed significantly to the novel as an art form, but this description predates his works.
• (c) Robert Bunyan: Likely a misrepresentation or confusion with John Bunyan, the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, a religious allegory not aligned with Fielding’s definition of the novel.