Types of novels and most outstanding characteristics

Inside of the narrative genre we find a subgenre that has enjoyed great popularity throughout history: the novel. This type of literary work written in prose and of great extension has been cultivated in our literature for many years; in fact, Don Quixote de la Mancha is considered to be the work that lays the foundations for the modern novel. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to show you the different types of novels and their characteristics more prominent so that, thus, you learn the different fictional subgenres that have emerged over the years. Take paper and pen because... The lesson begins!

Index

1. What is a novel: definition for children
2. Picaresque novel, a very popular type of novel
3. Chivalric novel
4. Pastoral novels
5. Sentimental novels
6. Novels of Spanish tradition
7. Autobiographical novel
8. Different types of novels most current

Before getting to know the different types of novels that exist, it is important that we stop for a moment to discover their meaning. When we talk about

We are going to discover you here the main characteristics of the novel so that you better know what type of narrative text we are facing:

• Written narratively: it is one of the main characteristics of the novel. It is a text that tells us a story and, for this, uses a prose language in which there is a very well defined structure.
• Long extension:unlike the story, the novel is usually a larger text that exceeds 100 pages. Due to this extension, this type of text is usually structured in chapters or different parts that help in its reading.
• Characters abound: the most common is that in a novel we meet both the main characters, that is, the protagonists but that there are also secondary characters that contribute to create the plot and to better draw the essence of the story.
• Subframes: Another characteristic of the novel is that it is a narrative subgenre that, due to its length and complexity, allows different plots and subplots to coexist. There is one that is the main one but, also, other related ones may appear and that serve to enrich the first.
• Descriptive: to be able to present the plot, the environment and the characters more truthfully, the author of the novel tends to be very detailed in terms of descriptions of spaces and protagonists.

Now that we know the subgenre of the novel better, we are going to dive right in to discover the most important types of novels in our history.

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We begin by talking about the most important types of novels mentioning the picaresque novel. It is a text that stars a character who is characterized by being mischievous and using all his talents of lies and deceit to achieve his purposes.

This type of novel arose in the 16th century and was a total change in the time because, until now, the novels showed idealized characters who were models of heroes. But, now, with the picaresque, he presents himself to a protagonist who is an antihero since the Spanish reality of the moment was very precarious: poverty, thieves, corrupt, beggars abounded ...

Therefore, the picaresque novel appeared for offer another reality of the Spanish Golden Age by showing us how a rogue character had to manage to survive in a world full of miseries. One of the greatest exponents of the picaresque in Spain is The Lazarillo de Tormesfrom 1554.

Another of the most well-known and popular types of novels in our history are the chivalric novelsor chivalric novels. It is a type of text that appeared in the 15th century and is easily recognized because it focuses on explaining the adventures of the brave knights. These writings always have a tone of heroism and idealization by showing us a hero who faces a great deal of adversity without losing honor or faith.

The protagonists of these novels acted as role models in society: they were brave knights, with courage and with great honor. A being highly respected by everyone who lives a lot of adventures of which he comes out successfully. Battles, wars and action abound in these works.

The greatest exponent of chivalric novels in Spain was the work of Joanot Martorell: Tirant lo Blanc(1490). They are also well known because Miguel de Cervantes conducted a parody of the genre in his great work "Don Quijote of La Mancha" (1605).

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The pastoral novels they are also a very important subgenre in the history of our literature. They appeared during the Renaissance period and had a boom throughout Europe. As the eye turned to the classics, the authors began to present stories set in rural worlds and starring shepherds. A bucolic and idealized vision of the world in which the protagonists discussed aspects related to love and nature.

They were texts that presented us with a love story in a rural setting. Precious descriptions of the landscape abound, and therefore the pace of the narrative is often slow and highly detailed. The stage becomes one more protagonist of the narrative and the protagonists stop to describe in detail everything they feel for their loved one. The experience of love or lack of love explained in detail.

In Spain we meet an author who wrote a pastoral novel that had an enormous influence on European letters: Jorge of Monemayor and his "Diana" (1559).

The sentimental novels they are another of the most popular types of novels in the history of Spain. Its origin dates back to the 15th century and it is a type of text written in prose whose main theme is lovemaking. Above all, breasts present a courtly love in which the lovers appear in an idealized way and who embody the moral ideals of the time: the young and pure in love and the brave and passionate hero.

In sentimental novels there is a great influence of the chivalric novel And so many of the male protagonists featured here were honored and heroic knights who lived an intense love story. The love that is presented to us in these stories is an idealized love in which the passions are presented in an allegorical and very elevated way.

The main difference of this type of novel is that the protagonists are courtiersTherefore, they are part of the nobility and have a language, customs and a very respectful and valued way of acting. With "Prison of love "by Diego de San Pedro in 1492 it is possible to reach the summit of this type of novel that was so very successful in its time.

We continue with this historical review of the different types of most important novels in our history to speak, now, of two genres that were cultivated only in Spanish territory: the Byzantine novel and the Moorish.

Byzantine novel

The byzantine novelit was a type of text that achieved great popularity in the Spanish Golden Age. It is also known as "pilgrim adventure books" and the origin of these writings are based on a Greek text that inspired the authors of this novel subgenre: The loves of Teagenes and Caricleaof Heliodoro de Émesa. These writings placed us in exotic places and they were starring a couple in love that they had to overcome a lot of obstacles to end up living together happily.

Moorish novel

Another of the types of novels that were of Spanish harvest is the Moorish novel, a text starring Muslim characters and that presents us with an idealized relationship between Christians and Muslims. They are writings that show Muslims with a positive and pacifist vision because they wanted to create an environment of cordiality and respect between both peoples. It was a very successful novel in Spain although the reality in the country was very different: the monarch Carlos V forced the Moors to convert to Catholicism.

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Nor can we leave out another very popular type of novel, above all, nowadays and that has very own characteristics. The autobiographical novel is a text in which the author himself tells us about his life, he usually chooses important and revealing moments for his life and, thus, offers us a more intimate approach to his person.

It is born by the will of the author to introspection and get to know his psyche better. Some samples of this type of novel are "Memoirs of a Formal Young Woman "by Virgina Wolf in 1958 or "Live to tell it" by García Márquez in 2002.

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The different types of novels can also be grouped by their dramatic genre. In this sense, there is a very wide variety that is difficult to collect. However, here is a summary of the types of novels that currently exist and that are most popular with authors and readers:

• Historical novel: is based on a real and historical fact to tell us a story in which there is room for fiction
• Science fiction novel: It is also a very booming genre and places us in imaginary realities where technology and scientific advances have created a world different from the current one
• Fantasy novels: these are texts in which imagination abounds and where characters appear that may be typical of the world of magic and fantasy (fairies, witches, wizards, etc.)
• Horror novels: They are texts that tell a scary and suspenseful story that captures the reader and takes them into a universe of fear and mystery.
• Adventure novels: They are stories starring characters who enter a fun and fascinating adventure. They are packed with action and mystery.
• Romantic novels: heiresses of sentimental novels, these types of novels are characterized by telling us a love story from an idealized and passionate point of view.
• Black novel: They are stories in which a crime or a criminal act occurs and that investigators, detectives or police go to work to discover who is responsible for the crime.

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