<i>Don Quixote</i> and the invention of the novel
Anthony J. Cascardi
When seen from the perspective of Don Quixote, origins novel can appear unfathomable. Looking backwards where we stand, it seem as if Quixote always existed, or somehow had to exist. Such has been force its impact on literary history. Before identify a variety fictional genres, not without interest in themselves, but relatively minor importance when compared with what spawned. In European tradition these forms include chivalric romances such Amadís Gaul, which Cervantes makes direct and repeated references, well autobiographies rogues Lazarillo de Tormes, pastoral tales like La Diana Jorge Montemayor L'Arcadia Jacopo Sannazaro, number Italian Renaissance epics, Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando furioso is arguably most important. still more distant past stand archaic adventure romances, Heliodorus' Ethiopian History anonymous Apollonius Tyre and, before these, towering ancient epics written verse. Some pre-novelistic genres were strong enough exert continuing pressure history spite novel's rise position near complete dominance; for others, became their unforeseeable incongruous continuation.
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