Renaissance Narrative Genres and the Picaresque Novel
Literary Dialogue: Definition and Types
Dialogue is a text type in which two or more parties exchange information, alternating their use of the word.
There are two main types of dialogue:
Unplanned Dialogue
The conversation is spontaneous and improvised. It occurs either in the presence of the partners or remotely.
Planned Dialogue
Planned dialogue is structured and often formalized, used for transmitting specific information or ideas, especially in written literature or formal settings.
- Debate
- Tertulia (Literary Gathering)
- Interview
Renaissance Narrative Forms in 16th-Century Prose
The sixteenth-century prose narrative presents a mixed picture, featuring a large number of novelistic genres.
Several Renaissance narrative genres enjoyed public favor. These included the Romance of Chivalry, which originated in the Middle Ages, and the Byzantine and Pastoral Novels, which mimicked narrative models from classical antiquity. New genres also emerged, such as the Moorish Novel.
Romance of Chivalry
These novels chronicle the adventures of a knight errant who travels the world to face great challenges in defense of justice and fairness, and to demonstrate love for his lady. The most famous novel, Amadís of Gaul, had been known since the fourteenth century, but a recasting of the work by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo was issued in 1508. Another famous novel of chivalry, Tirant lo Blanc, written in Catalan, was published in the late fifteenth century.
Byzantine Novel
This genre features a pair of young lovers who are forced apart. They embark on a long journey around the world, seeking to rediscover each other. At the end, they manage to meet again and celebrate their marriage. The genre began with The Loves of Thinning and Florisea (1522) by Alonso Núñez de Reinoso.
Pastoral Novel
The characters of this genre are cultivated and idealized shepherds who recount their amorous misadventures in an idyllic and unreal natural setting. La Galatea (1585) by Miguel de Cervantes is one of the most representative works.
Moorish Novel
This genre tells of events between Moors and Christians during the Reconquista. The action scenes are idealized, and the characters are displayed with idealized chivalric features. The most famous work is A History of Abencerraje and Beautiful Giraffe (1561), of unknown authorship.
Lazarillo de Tormes: Birth of the Picaresque Novel
The first retained editions of Lazarillo de Tormes date from 1554. This work, whose author is unknown, achieved great success in its time and established a new genre: the picaresque novel.
The protagonist, Lázaro de Tormes, is a rogue who narrates events from his past life in the first person. The story is framed as a letter addressed to “Your Grace.”
Plot and Narrative Structure
Lázaro addresses “Your Honor,” who allegedly asked him to explain his current situation. Lázaro, however, recounts all his adventures from childhood onward to fully justify his present circumstances.
The protagonist is the son of a miller convicted of theft. This forces him, as a child, to enter the service of a cunning and cruel blind man. It is with this blind man that Lázaro learns to fend for himself.
Lázaro spends his childhood, adolescence, and youth with different masters. These stays shape his character:
- A greedy priest
- A poor squire
- A monk of the Merced
- A Pardoner (seller of papal indulgences)
- A chaplain
- A constable
As an adult, Lázaro achieves some stability: he becomes a town crier (preacher) of Toledo and marries the maid of the Archpriest of San Salvador. His wife is having an affair with another man, but Lázaro consents. His life experiences have taught him to disregard gossip and prioritize his own security and stability.
Originality and Key Features of Lazarillo
Unlike the idealized reality presented in chivalric, Byzantine, pastoral, and Moorish novels—where protagonists were heroes undertaking grand adventures—Lazarillo de Tormes introduced groundbreaking features:
- Realism: The novel offers a realistic, non-idealized depiction of 16th-century Spanish society, including all its miseries.
- Protagonist: The rogue is the son of parents without honor, often the object of ridicule and deception. He is the antithesis of the traditional literary hero.
- Character Evolution: While characters in other works typically do not evolve, Lázaro must constantly contend with adverse conditions, forcing him to adapt and mature.