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Question

Difficulty: MediumTypes and Genres of Prose

A prose narrative that chronologically details the episodic adventures of a roguish, low-class protagonist who survives by his wits while exposing societal flaws is best described as which type of prose fiction?

  1. Picaresque novelAnswer
  2. B
    Gothic novel
  3. C
    Epistolary novel
  4. D
    Romance novel

Answer

Picaresque novel
The term 'picaresque' originates from the Spanish 'pícaro' (meaning rogue or knave). A picaresque novel is typically a realistic, first-person episodic narrative depicting the life and adventures of a low-born anti-hero who survives in a corrupt society by cunning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key structural and character traits in the stem
The narrative features an episodic structure, a low-class roguish protagonist (picaro), reliance on wits, and a satirical view of society.
Genre classification in prose relies on recognizing core structural elements and character archetypes.
2
Match these defining traits to the corresponding prose subgenre
The picaresque novel is defined specifically by the episodic adventures of a picaro (a rogue of low social standing).
Recognizing genre conventions allows accurate identification among prose subgenres.

Key Concept

Defining characteristics of the picaresque novel subgenre
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Topics

Types and Genres of Prose

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