Final answer:
The statement that Montaigne's Essays are a form of the novel is false. Montaigne wrote essays, which are non-fiction, while novels are lengthy and fictional works focused on character development, as seen in the first modern novel, Don Quixote by Cervantes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that Montaigne's Essays is one of the earliest examples of the novel form is False. Montaigne's work consists of a series of essays, which are a form of non-fiction literature and do not align with the criteria of a novel. The novel form is generally characterized by fictional narratives that are lengthy and delve into characters' development over time. Indeed, Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes, written in 1605, is widely considered the first modern novel, notably because the characters evolve throughout the story.
Reading fiction, such as novels, offers a distinct experience where the reader is invited to immerse in a constructed reality, observing complex characters interact within a significant span of events. This is contrasted with the experience of reading non-fiction, such as essays, where insights and arguments about reality are directly conveyed by the author.
Therefore, while Montaigne's work was significant for its form and content, it does not fit within the category of a novel as defined in literary terms.