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Literature vocabulary · Genres and Forms

Picaresque

Meaning in literature, with examples

adjectiveAdvanced term

In literature, picaresque means: Describing episodic fiction that follows a roguish outsider through different parts of society.

In Turkish: pikaresk

How it is used

Use before novel or tradition for episodic adventures that reveal society through an outsider. The noun phrase the picaresque names this literary form.

Example sentences

  1. The novel follows the picaresque tradition as its penniless hero moves from one master to another.

    Changing employers gives the outsider access to different social settings.

  2. We discussed whether the student's road story was picaresque or simply a travel adventure.

    The distinction depends on the outsider's role and social exposure, not travel alone.

Common collocations

  • picaresque novel
  • picaresque tradition
  • novelA long story written in prose that describes imaginary people and events, usually long enough to fill a whole book and to develop characters in detail.
  • satireWriting that uses humor, irony and exaggeration to criticize or mock the foolishness or wrongdoing of people, institutions or society.

More terms: Genres and Forms

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