Catalan Literature in the Middle Ages: A Comprehensive Overview
Catalan Literature in the Middle Ages
Troubadour Poetry
Troubadour poetry, reflecting the aristocratic life and social environment of the nobility, flourished in the feudal courts of Southern France and spread to Catalonia and Northern Italy during the 11th-13th centuries. Occitan or Provençal became the language of Catalan poetry in the 12th century due to geographic proximity, linguistic affinity, and political and economic ties.
Feudal society was divided into two classes: the nobility who lived in palaces or castles and managed their properties, and the serfs who lived in mud huts and worked the land, raised animals, and served the lords. They were bound by oaths of fidelity and dependence.
Famous troubadours included William of Cabestany, Wilhelm of Berguedà, and Cerverí de Girona.
The three main genres of troubadour poetry were:
- Canso: Songs of courtly love, where a vassal declares his love for the wife of his feudal lord.
- Sirventes: Poems attacking a hated person, often set to a known melody.
- Planh: A lament dedicated to a recently deceased person.
Ramon Llull
Ramon Llull (1232-1316) was the creator of Catalan literary prose. He used neologisms and emphasized the use of allegory and examples.
Llull’s main objectives were to convert infidels to Christianity, write books to spread his beliefs, and create a higher form of language for preachers. He also wanted to guide Christians towards perfection.
Llull’s Art: An infallible method that would allow the conversion of infidels through easily understood reasoning.
He was the first European writer to use a Romance language (Catalan) to address topics that were previously reserved for Latin.
His most notable works include:
- Book of Evast and Blanquerna
- Book of Wonders (featuring fables)
Llull’s fables used animal behavior to mirror human behavior and serve as moral examples.
Four Chronicles:
- James I the Conqueror (autobiography) reveals intimate and human aspects of the King.
- Bernard Desclot (book of the King, my father) explains the conquest of Mallorca and the invasion of Sicily.
- Ramon Muntaner features five kings as protagonists, including the author himself.
- Peter III the Ceremonious uses the Canso de la Croada to justify the actions taken during his reign.
These chronicles provide a comprehensive account of medieval Catalonia’s rise to prominence in Europe.
Chivalric Romances
Books of Chivalry:
These featured virtuous knights who sought adventure and honor to gain merit and the love of a lady. They often included fantastical elements and magic.
Chivalric Novels:
Emerging in the 15th century, these featured human knights who intervened in historical situations and familiar settings.
Tirant lo Blanc:
Eisner author, the novel cavallersca cracteritzada x dmensio human prsonatges DLS, versemblaça actions and tractamnt d dvertit happy and loving relationships.
Differences between the filter of love and the bond of love:
The romance of Tristan and Isolde is not Punkte nrmal, but magical product. LAA will be born against DLS protagnistes become a torture permannt which n is pdran or dpres release of death.
Ausias March: nobleman born in Gandia in 1397, was Knight. It is the great poet of classic literature ctalana is the creator Mon llnguatge lyrical Catalan. Speaks + d ls sves deep concerns (love, death, DSTI, struggle between good and evil …)
was declared a master of love, he prefers an honest love before love snsual but QE is dminat by sgon.
Departs from the troubadour tradition: writing in Catalan (Occitan or Provencal leaves), expresses its sincere pensamnt (abandons topics trobadorescos DLS), DNA presnta cm prsona a real love poem ls (not like d feudal lord)
His poems are decasyllabic ls and stanzas of 8 verses or couplets and censorship tnen ls silabes between 4 and 5
In poems, use the sign (word or xpressió q x dsignar poet used by women to whom the poem anva ddicat lily among thorns, and full of wisdom)
X has a great capacity to create large images and long cmparacions q expresses the xperience and pnsament sbre his love.
Bernard doctor: the writer is better assimilated q humanism, his dream + importnt What is written in elegant prose and cultured.
Humanism is a cultural mviment q drant the century begins in italy BSE is the fourteenth and impose Mon Renaixemnt q across Europe in the sixteenth century
Humanists dscobreixn ls humanitts (lltres the classical world and culture Mon grecollatí) and q sostnen Eser the human race has of being the center of culture and art.
The officials of the royal chancellery (office king Mon) RBER the influence of Italian humanism. The prose became llngua x mdel of the scriptor of the epoch.
Joan Rois de Corella: Latin literature scholar and humanist. The characteristic x sves s works and pretty llatinitzat cult llnguatge a sentence long and abundance of figures retoriqes. Tragedy Caldesia (+ imprtant work)