Not the same as picturesque, I presume.
2006-12-10 10:34:32 · 8 answers · asked by peaducks 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The picaresque novel (Spanish: "picaresca", from "pícaro", for "rogue" or "rascal") is a popular subgenre of prose fiction which is usually satirical and depicts in realistic and often humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his or her wits in a corrupt society. This style of novel originated in Spain and flourished in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and continues to influence modern literature
2006-12-10 10:38:36 · answer #1 · answered by shogunly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Define Picaresque
2016-10-04 08:20:12 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Involving clever rogues or adventurers especially as in a type of fiction
"picaresque novels";
"waifs of the picaresque tradition"; "a picaresque hero"
Similar words : dishonest; dishonourable
2006-12-13 19:42:38 · answer #3 · answered by Kuschke 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a type of fiction in which the rogue/anti-hero (usually a working lad, down on his luck) goes through a series of episodic adventures, and generally comes out on top.
An example would be something like Kerouac's On The Road, or Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
2006-12-10 10:45:13 · answer #4 · answered by onefishtwofish 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
pi·ca·resque
Pronunciation: "pi-k&-'resk, "pE-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Spanish picaresco, from pícaro
: of or relating to rogues or rascals; also : of, relating to, suggesting, or being a type of fiction dealing with the episodic adventures of a usually roguish protagonist
2006-12-10 10:39:00 · answer #5 · answered by Polo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here is what i got on the dictionary application on my mac:
picaresque |ˌpikəˈresk| adjective of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French, from Spanish picaresco. See picaro .
2006-12-10 10:49:15 · answer #6 · answered by SpAzZ_mOnKi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its from the Spanish word "picaro" which refers to a young beggar or tramp, possibly a budding con man, or scoundrel who travels from place to place seeking his fortune or at least a hot meal.
Picaresque novels follow this kind of character on his misadventures.
2006-12-10 10:46:16 · answer #7 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/picaresque
2006-12-10 10:42:08 · answer #8 · answered by Random Person 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋