Baroque Lyric: Conceptismo, Culteranismo, and Key Authors
Baroque Lyric: Conceptismo and Culteranismo
The Baroque lyric was a literary movement developed in the 17th century, during Spain’s Golden Age. It pushed the expressive possibilities of language to reflect a complex and contradictory reality.
Key Trends in Baroque Lyric
- Conceptismo: This style emphasized the intricate relationship between expression and content, focusing primarily on the latter. Its most prominent representative was Francisco de Quevedo. Conceptismo made extensive use of stylistic devices such as comparisons, allegories, and metaphors, often with a humorous touch.
- Culteranismo: An evolution of Conceptismo, Culteranismo further developed the language’s syntax, lexicon, and semantics. It prioritized form over content. While Conceptismo appealed to intelligence, Culteranismo aimed to engage the senses. Luis de Góngora was its leading figure.
- Other Trends: Some authors followed a path of balance between expression and content, but with a pessimistic undertone, reflecting a disillusioned view of reality or an extreme vitalism. Lope de Vega is an example of this trend.
Lope de Vega (1562-1635)
Lope de Vega was born and died in Madrid. His youth was marked by several amorous scandals, leading to his exile from the city. He married twice and was known for his infidelities. He eventually became a priest but continued to have relationships. His funeral was a massive demonstration of popular grief.
Although primarily known for his plays, Lope de Vega was also a prolific poet, considered one of the best of the 16th century. He masterfully captured public taste.
Lope de Vega’s Poetic Works
He wrote letrillas, sonnets, and ballads, covering popular, burlesque, amorous, and religious themes. Notable works include:
- Rimas
- Rimas Sacras
- Rimas humanas y divinas del licenciado Tomé de Burguillos
Lope de Vega’s Style
His style is characterized by its classic, traditional lyricism, seeking a balance between substance and form. He incorporated all the events of his life, both amorous and religious, into his poetry.
Francisco de Quevedo (1580-1645)
Quevedo was born in Madrid and studied in Alcalá de Henares and Valladolid, where his famous rivalry with Góngora began. He was involved in politics and suffered exile and imprisonment. He died in Villanueva de los Infantes.
Quevedo’s Style
Quevedo was known for his sharp wit, critical and ruthless satire, and his preoccupation with the passage of time. His character allowed him to craft masterful critiques.
Quevedo’s Works
His extensive body of work encompasses political, philosophical, romantic, and burlesque themes, often reflecting a lack of confidence in humanity. He was deeply concerned with aging and death, as exemplified by the memento mori topos. He was one of the most prolific authors of his century.
Luis de Góngora (1561-1627)
Góngora was born and died in Córdoba. He was a priest and had a difficult, proud character, which led to his confrontation with Quevedo. His literary merit was fully recognized 300 years after his death, and he became an inspiration for the Generation of ’27.
Góngora’s Works
- Early Poems: Letrillas, ballads, and sonnets.
- Major Poems:
- Fábula de Píramo y Tisbe
- Panegírico al Duque de Lerma
- Soledades: Góngora’s longest work, left unfinished. It narrates the story of a pilgrim in four stages (youth, adolescence, adulthood, and old age), but only the first and the beginning of the second were written. It is composed in silvas.
- Fábula de Polifemo y Galatea: Consisting of 63 stanzas, it tells the story of the cyclops Polyphemus, who falls in love with the nymph Galatea. She rejects him because she loves the shepherd Acis.
- Sonnets: He also wrote high-quality sonnets on amorous, satirical, and philosophical themes, often using the carpe diem topos and exploring the passage of time.
Góngora’s Style
His style is divided into two stages:
- Mannerist: Characterized by a lighter tone.
- Culteranismo: Marked by complex and intricate poetry.
Góngora’s Significance
His innovative character has been recognized throughout history, influencing movements such as the “pure poetry” that emerged in France and the Generation of ’27 in Spain.