What is a Picaresque?
An episodic style of fiction describing a rogue or low-life and their adventures.
The Mischievous Adventures of a Rogue: Picaresque
The term picaresque comes from the Spanish word 'picaresco', which means 'rogue'. Picaresque stories originated in 16th century Spain and were subsequently popular throughout Europe. These stories are characterized by the episodic representation of the adventures of a roguish hero or heroine (the picaro or picara) in a realistic and often humorous fashion.
This literary genre is an excellent way to explore the world of the criminal underbelly, and is an effective satire of society, as well as a genre that highlights the plight of the working class and the poor. Due to its episodic nature, picaresque narratives allow the writer to introduce a variety of different characters and settings, while still telling the story of the main character and following their journey.
Because these stories often contain hard-to-forget characters in real-life situations, the genre of picaresque has been widely used in both novels and television shows. Picaresque novels are great because they allow for a diverse range of events and characters, while also making for an entertaining and thoughtful read.
Learn how the picaresque genre has inspired authors to take a wild ride in their literary creations. Here are two examples of how this style has been utilized by famous writers.
In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain tells the story of a young boy who runs away from home to embark on an adventurous life alongside the runaway slave, Jim.
As the two journey down the Mississippi River, they encounter a wide range of characters and situations, giving readers an entertaining look into the everyday lives of people in the mid-1800s. The book uses the picaresque style to shine a light on the moral corruption of antebellum Southern society and to describe the struggles of slaves and African Americans, as well as Huck's own personal transformation.
In The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz delivers a captivating tale that follows the life of the overweight, sci-fi loving, Dominican-American protagonist, Oscar de León.
Diaz uses the picaresque style to explore how Oscar navigates through his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, as well as his struggles with love, weight, and social acceptance. This book provides a panorama of Oscar's life, while also exposing the dark history of the Dominican Republic and the deep-seated prejudices faced by immigrants and minorities in America.