What does the term roman a clef mean?

• A. A travelogue about a journey with a map.
• B. A literary device used to disguise real people in fiction.
• C. A non-fiction essay disguised as fiction.
• D. French for 'novel with a key' that requires a key for comprehension.

Answer: (D)

A roman à clef is a French phrase meaning “novel with a key.” It refers to a work of fiction in which real people or events are portrayed under fictional names or composites, so readers who know the identities can map them to the real figures using a key. The defining feature is that the author provides or expects a key to unlock who the characters really represent, which is why this option is the best fit. This device lets the writer critique or comment on public figures while maintaining a layer of disguise. The other ideas miss this precise combination: a travelogue is about a journey, not about disguising real people; a non-fiction essay disguised as fiction isn’t fiction at all; and the precise phrasing “novel with a key” that signals the need for a key for comprehension is the hallmark of the term.