19. The Nachleben of the Ancient Novel in Iberian Literature in the Sixteenth Century

Abstract

It has been amply stressed that the novel was, right from the beginning, a popular and secular form of literature, profoundly rooted in a popular substratum. Arnadis also reveals the influence of medieval Iberian narratives connected with Arthurian legends. Concerning Portuguese literature and the way it was influenced by the ancient novel, this chapter focuses on sixteenth-century narrative which, from a thematic point of view, is usually divided into three broad sections: the sentimental novel, the pastoral novel and the chivalric novel. There a certain dualism in Arnadis' character, which also reminds us of the Greek novel. At the end of the sixteenth century, there were seventeen editions of Diana, which was enthusiastically acknowledged all over Europe and deeply influenced several national literatures. The chapter concludes that classical culture did have an important part to play in the development of the novel in the Iberian Peninsula in the 16th century. Keywords: Arthurian legends; Greek novel; Iberian narratives; Portuguese literature