What geographical pattern do 18th-century British picaresque novels typically follow to highlight the contrast between rural simplicity and urban corruption?
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Correct answer: From the rural provinces toward London, then back to a country estate on reform
The road narrative is essential to the picaresque format, acting as a physical representation of social mobility. Moving from the provinces toward London allows the author to depict the breakdown of traditional communal values and the rise of commercialized, anonymous city crime. The return to a rural estate at the end represents the restoration of moral order and social stability.
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