Mastering Catalan Literature: Authors and Masterpieces
Bernat Metge: A Literary Pioneer of the 14th Century
Bernat Metge was born in Barcelona in 1343 into a family linked to the court. He was educated in writing and official languages (Latin, Catalan, and Aragonese). His stay at the papal court of Avignon, a cultural hub in Europe at the time, allowed him to delve into new authors and readings, most notably Petrarch. Metge served as the last secretary to the Catalan dynasty kings, Joan I and Martin I. He was involved in corruption scandals, especially after the death of Joan I in 1396, which led to the writing of Lo Somni. After the death of Martin I, he retired from court and died in Barcelona in 1413.
Key Works of Bernat Metge
- Lo Somni (The Dream) – His most representative work.
- Book of Wisdom
- Valter e Griselda
- Humorous texts
Metge’s work took root in medieval culture, literature, and mentality. His innovation was to permeate Catalan prose with the style and elegance of classical Italian elements.
Ausiàs March: Poet of Love, Death, and Morality
Ausiàs March was born in Gandia in 1400 and died in Valencia in 1459. The son of a family of poets and knights, he served Alfons the Generous, who appointed him royal falconer. He married twice but had no legitimate offspring, only natural children.
March’s poetry breaks with the tradition of troubadour poetry. Comprising 128 poems, his work expresses personal feelings. The man and the poet are one, appearing with all their virtues and flaws, doubts and certainties. March is obsessed with love, man’s relationship with God, death, and ethical problems.
Structure of March’s Poetry
March’s work can be structured by themes and tone into different blocks:
- Songs of Love: The central theme is love. March’s love is directed towards women as individuals, identical in strength and weakness to any human being. They are real women, as opposed to intellectualized love. The love songs are organized around five senhals (troubadour code names): Full of Wisdom, Lily Among Thorns, Oh Foolish Love, Love, Love, and My Last Either.
- Moral Songs: These poems are based on the philosophical tradition of Aristotle and St. Thomas, leading to an analysis of feelings and contradictions.
- Songs of Death: These six long poems were written in March’s old age, when death is present. The poet’s voice speaks personally, releasing the pain of having lost the ability to love and facing two unknowns: the fate of the beloved woman in the afterlife and God’s justice.
Curial e Güelfa: A Chivalric Romance
Curial e Güelfa is a chivalric romance that incorporates sentimental, adventure, psychological, and Moorish themes.
Structure and Plot
- First Book: Curial is introduced. Güelfa meets him and falls in love.
- Second Book: Güelfa gives Curial an opportunity to be faithful to her while being guarded by one of her assistants.
- Third Book: A storm prompts Güelfa to search for Curial, but he is not found. Curial falls in love with Càmar and reveals the location of her father’s treasure so they can marry. Güelfa attempts suicide by throwing herself out a window.
The Role of Women
Women are the engine of the action. Without them, Curial would not have reached the height of his glory.
A Chivalric Mentality Between Two Ideologies
Far from the Arthurian model, the author seems influenced by classical tradition, contemporary Italian literature, and the Catalan tradition of Llull. The work is considered a sentimental novel of its time.