THE CHRONOTOPE OF THE PICARESQUE TEXT

Abstract

Examining the foundational tenets of plot advancement in picaresque literature, scholars observe that that in order to "reconstruct" the traditions of the genre, authors often resort to the plot type of the hero's journey. Evidently, this narrative is intertwined with the theme of travel, which gains particular prominence during epochs characterized by volatility and the emergence of new public formations. However, there is another group of stories in which the motive of the road is not the main and determining factor of the story.

For the picaresque genre, it holds importance that the artistic timeframe of the narratives extends beyond the mere biological maturation of the main character. Alongside the passage of biological time, the Picaro's psychological and moral journey undergoes transformation.

The prevalent, though not obligatory, narrative structure within picaresque literature is the "voyage," intertwined with the chronotope of the "high road." This framework facilitates the depiction of a broad, expansive tableau of societal archetypes and historical occurrences of the period.

The picaresque conflict during the 1920s can be characterized as a clash between proponents of the bourgeois-individualistic ideology (such as the "former" aristocracy and the rogue-picaro) and the emerging socialist society ("new" individuals). The former vehemently resist assimilation into the new societal order, while the latter are willing to accept the Picaro under the condition of his transformation ("re-education"). Should the picaro persist in open defiance against the "system," he faces expulsion from society. The methods of expulsion vary, including exile or emigration, as well as arrest and imprisonment. This particular form of artistic conflict significantly influenced the chronotopic structure of the narratives, the plot compositions of the works, and the artistic language within the picaresque realm.

Key words: Picaresque, Novel, Conflict, Literature, Aventure.