`picaresque` Related Article Results

Picaresque novel is a literary form that emerged in 16th-century Spain and gradually evolved into a universal narrative genre. The genre derives its name from the Spanish word "picaro" (rogue, scoundrel) and centers on the life story of a character drawn from the lower strata of society, often an antihero. This protagonist, known as the picaro, typically narrates his own life in the first-person singular; the story unfolds in an autobiographical manner. Historical Development and Early Examples