According to the text, which of the following were precursors to the novel (Mark all that apply.) ?

epic poetry

Italian romances

short stories

Spanish romances

sonnets

French Romances

In the history of the novel, French romances, Spanish romances, Italian Romances, and epic poetry are all widely considered to be precursors to the novel. All forms of the romance offered a new style of narrative fiction for the consisted of detailed, complex plots, dialogue, and the exploration of various historical and social issues. Epic poetry, also, offered extensive narratives that tended to focus on serious subject matters.