A blackguard is a rude or corrupt person. Based on Bierce's definition of a cynic, in which literary category would the writings of cynics most likely be placed?

Bierce defines a cynic as someone who sees things as they really are rather than as they should be. Writing that presents people and life plainly, without idealizing them, is associated with realism. So the writings of cynics would most likely be placed in realism, not romanticism or transcendentalism, which tend to emphasize idealized or spiritual views.

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