Picaresque Novels
Chapter 1 - INTRODUCTION
Picaresque as a Literary Genre
The term Picaresque was derived from the term “picaro” which means the same with rogue, rascal, bohemian or an adventurer. The term “picaresque” in Literature wasn’t created until in the early 19th century, when the novel Lazarillo de Tormes wtitten by an anonymous writer because of its heretical content was published in 1553 and became popular right then. Most picaresque novels incorporate several defining characteristics according to Thrall and Hibbard on their book A Handbook to Literature. Such characteristics are the following:
The chief figure is drawn from a low social level, is of loose character, and, if employed at all, does menial work;
It chronicles a part of the whole of the life of a rogue. It is likely to be in the first person.
The novel presents a series of episodes only slightly connected.
Progress and development of character do not take place. The central figure starts as a picaro and ends as a picaro. When change occurs, as it sometimes does, it is external, brought about by the picaro’s falling heir to a fortune or by marrying money;
The method is realistic. Although the story may be romantic in itself, it is presented with a plainness of language and a vividness of detail such as only the realist is permitted;
Thrown with people from every class and often from different parts of the world, the picaro serves them intimately in some lowly capacity and learns all their foibles and frailties. The picaresque novel may in this way be made to satirize social castes, national types, or ethnic peculiarities;
The hero usually stops just short of being an actual criminal. The line between crime and petty rascality is hazy, but somehow the picaro always manages to draw it. Carefree, amoral perhaps, the picaro avoids actual crime and turns from one peccadillo to disappear down the road in search of another
Those characteristics may then create a surprise for some who have never
Picaresque as a Literary Genre
The term Picaresque was derived from the term “picaro” which means the same with rogue, rascal, bohemian or an adventurer. The term “picaresque” in Literature wasn’t created until in the early 19th century, when the novel Lazarillo de Tormes wtitten by an anonymous writer because of its heretical content was published in 1553 and became popular right then. Most picaresque novels incorporate several defining characteristics according to Thrall and Hibbard on their book A Handbook to Literature. Such characteristics are the following:
The chief figure is drawn from a low social level, is of loose character, and, if employed at all, does menial work;
It chronicles a part of the whole of the life of a rogue. It is likely to be in the first person.
The novel presents a series of episodes only slightly connected.
Progress and development of character do not take place. The central figure starts as a picaro and ends as a picaro. When change occurs, as it sometimes does, it is external, brought about by the picaro’s falling heir to a fortune or by marrying money;
The method is realistic. Although the story may be romantic in itself, it is presented with a plainness of language and a vividness of detail such as only the realist is permitted;
Thrown with people from every class and often from different parts of the world, the picaro serves them intimately in some lowly capacity and learns all their foibles and frailties. The picaresque novel may in this way be made to satirize social castes, national types, or ethnic peculiarities;
The hero usually stops just short of being an actual criminal. The line between crime and petty rascality is hazy, but somehow the picaro always manages to draw it. Carefree, amoral perhaps, the picaro avoids actual crime and turns from one peccadillo to disappear down the road in search of another
Those characteristics may then create a surprise for some who have never