Throughout Don Quixote Cervantes claims that his novel is a true history about real people and based on documented evidence Why does he make this claim How do games with authorshi?

You're absolutely right! Cervantes, in his "Don Quixote," makes a deliberate and ongoing effort to present the novel as a true history, even going so far as to claim he's merely a translator of the story. This is a fascinating literary strategy with several layers of meaning.

Here are some reasons why Cervantes might have claimed his novel was a true history:

* To enhance credibility and realism: By pretending the story is a historical account, Cervantes could make his fantastical characters and events seem more believable. This strategy taps into the reader's desire for authenticity and adds a layer of intrigue.

* To satirize chivalric romances: Cervantes was mocking the popular chivalric romances of his time, which were often filled with unrealistic heroes and fantastical plots. By claiming his novel is a true history, he subtly undercuts those romances and highlights their absurdity.

* To play with the reader's expectations: Cervantes enjoys toying with the reader's expectations and creating a sense of playful ambiguity. The constant tension between the fictional world of Don Quixote and the real world of the narrator keeps the reader engaged and encourages them to question what is true and what is fiction.

* To establish a meta-narrative: The novel becomes a commentary on the nature of storytelling itself. By blurring the lines between reality and fiction, Cervantes invites the reader to consider how stories are constructed and how they influence our understanding of the world.

Games with authorship:

Cervantes's playful approach to authorship adds another layer of intrigue. By presenting himself as merely a translator, he distances himself from the potentially controversial content of the novel while also adding to the mystery surrounding its creation. This allows him to explore the role of the author and the power of storytelling in a more nuanced way.

The "games with authorship" are a key aspect of the novel's enduring appeal. They make "Don Quixote" a work that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, inviting readers to engage with the text on multiple levels. It's a novel that constantly challenges us to question what we think we know about reality, fiction, and the very nature of storytelling itself.