Don Quixote: A Picaresque Adventure or Parody of Chivalry?

Don Quixote: A Picaresque Adventure or Parody of Chivalry?

"Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes, is widely regarded as one of the greatest literary works of all time and a defining piece of Western literature. The novel tells the story of an aging nobleman, Don Quixote, who becomes delusional after reading too many tales of chivalric romance. Determined to revive knighthood, he sets off on a series of misadventures, accompanied by his loyal but pragmatic squire, Sancho Panza. Blending satire, irony, and realism, Cervantes’ masterpiece offers a profound commentary on the tension between idealism and reality, human folly, and the changing social order of 16th-century Spain. Don Quixote’s journey has transcended the pages of literature, giving rise to the term 'quixotic,' and continues to influence storytelling and cultural discourse today.

Don Quixote,
Miguel de Cervantes,
Picaresque novel,
Chivalric romance,
Sancho Panza,
Knight-errant,
Idealism vs. Reality,
Satire,
Quixotic,
Madness and Delusion,
Windmills, (tilting at windmills)
Metafiction,
16th-century Spain,
Golden Age of Spanish Literature,
Social critique,
Honor and Nobility,
Chivalry,
Irony in literature,
Loyalty and Friendship,
Moral ambiguity,
Parody of chivalry,
Cervantes’ literary influence,
Realism vs. Fantasy,
Adventure,
Literary legacy