What narrative device is most prominently used in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra?

The most prominent narrative device used in Don Quixote is a framed narrative structure to discuss storytelling. This device involves a story within a story, which allows for multiple perspectives and layers of interpretation. In Don Quixote, Cervantes constructs a narrative where the protagonist, Don Quixote, engages with various characters and situations that reflect his misguided ideals of chivalry, contrasting with the realities of the world around him. This allows readers to explore themes of reality vs. illusion, the nature of storytelling itself, and the impact of literature on the human experience.

By employing a framed narrative, Cervantes invites readers to question the reliability of storytellers and the stories they tell, making the book not only a tale of adventure but also a commentary on the act of storytelling and its implications. This device effectively enriches the narrative, as it presents a metafictional element that encourages readers to engage deeply with the text.