http://www.jimmys-adventures.net/adventure-genre-definition/
Is the Harry Potter series considered “picaresque”?
Picaresque: The picaresque novel (Spanish: “picaresca”, from “pícaro”, for “rogue” or “rascal”) is a popular sub-genre of prose fiction which is usually satirical and depicts in realistic and often humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his or her wits in a corrupt society.
I know what the definition is, so don’t bother posting that, but I actually need an educated answer for this.
Thanks!
I don’t think the Harry Potter series would be considered picaresque. Harry, I think, is probably middle-class as are his Muggle aunt and uncle; he doesn’t spend any time with rogues and vagabonds in the accepted sense, and he is not one himself. Does he live by his wits? No: he uses his wits – with help from his respectable friends and mentor Dumbledore – in each novel to solve a mystery and overcome the machinations of Voldemort. He has to use them to survive, but only in the direst of circumstances. Otherwise, he lives a normal life and is adequately provided for. He attends a very respectable (in the wizarding sense) boarding school, where many of the pupils are from old, pure-blood wizarding families. The Malfoys seem to be wealthy and have a mansion somewhere in the country.
There is an element of political corruption in the Ministry of Magic; we also see the Muggle Prime Minister trying to cope with the problems of the wizarding world that must remain secret.
Perhaps Harry is a “rogue” wizard, in that he is marked out by prophecy and the lightning scar as Voldemort’s nemesis, but he is still a young boy trying to be normal in normal circumstances, given the magical world. Grindelwald would better fit “rogue” wizard!
I think you could say that it’s picaresque regarding the whole magic world of J K Rowling’s imagination, which is finely realised with a lot of detail. The reader is drawn in deeper and deeper until he/she feels that the world really does exist. Note the realistic details of Diagon Alley, the Burrow, the classes at Hogwarts, etc. Though I don’t think J K made the language her main concern, and there is no satire that I remember, except for a lot of humour. Merlin’s beard! I forgot Quidditch!
That’s my opinion – hope it helps.
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