picaresque Definition
relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero.
Using picaresque: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "picaresque" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The novel is written in a picaresque style.
Example
The picaresque tale follows the adventures of a lovable rogue.
Example
The film is a picaresque journey through the American West.
picaresque Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for picaresque
- rascally
- unscrupulous
- rogueish
Phrases with picaresque
picaresque novel
a genre of prose fiction that depicts the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society
Example
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic example of a picaresque novel.
a protagonist in a picaresque novel who is a roguish, witty, and street-smart character of low social class
Example
Tom Jones is a picaresque hero who goes on a series of adventures and misadventures.
a movie that follows the adventures of a roguish hero in a series of episodic and often comic encounters
Example
Easy Rider is a picaresque film that explores the counterculture of the 1960s.
Origins of picaresque
from Spanish 'picaresco', from 'picaro' meaning 'rogue'
Summary: picaresque in Brief
The term 'picaresque' [ˌpɪkəˈresk] refers to an episodic style of fiction that portrays the adventures of a charming but dishonest hero. It is often used to describe novels, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and films, such as Easy Rider, that follow the exploits of a roguish protagonist. The picaresque hero is typically a witty and street-smart character of low social class.
