The Development Of The 18～(th)-century Realistic Novels In England And Spanish Picaresque Novels

While inheriting the tradition of outstanding literature in their owncountry, English novelists in the first half of the 18th century acceptinfluences from literature of various countries in Europe extensively. Theyespecially absorb helpful experience of Spanish picaresque novels and createa lot of excellent works with realism. Spanish picaresque novel is one of theearly novel forms in the west. It originates in Spain in the middle of the 16thcentury, whose protagonists usually are rogues or adventurers of low socialdegree. Adopting the form of an autobiography, it often deals with humorousdetail of the adventures of the roguish hero who live by his or her wits in anunpleasant society, involving various social pictures and personages'sketches, relating the waifs' destiny and reflecting the social life state at thattime.After Spanish picaresque novels are introduced into other countries ofEurope, they influence the writing of the European novelists on theirnarrative technique and structural method. The English novelists change theirwriting trend from romance to reality. Besides on the content of the works,English realistic novels, which flourish in the 18th century, are influenced bySpanish picaresque novels deeply on the theme, the structure and personagetypes as well. Distilling various outstanding fruits and innovatingcontinuously on the basis of the real life state in England, the realisticnovelists in the 18th century unprecedentedly inaugurate the technique of thewestern novels, causing the first rise of the novels in Europe. Their novels,helping the setting of the novel both in its thoughts and forms, establish asolid foundation for its later development.