Medieval Spanish Literary Traditions and Key Authors

Posted on Sep 27, 2025 in Latin

Medieval Literature: Key Characteristics

Transition and Language

  • Transition from archaic language to more developed forms.
  • Coexistence of oral and popular literature with literature for educated nobles.

Dominant Themes and Context

  • Strong religious influence.
  • Literature often rooted in village life and popular traditions.
  • Theocentric worldview: God as the center of existence.
  • Didactic purpose: Literary genres often aimed to teach moral lessons.

Major Literary Genres of the Medieval Period

Poetry

  • Lyrical Poetry:
    • Cultured lyrical forms.
    • Traditional lyrical expressions.
    • Narrative lyrical compositions.
  • Poetry of Minstrelsy (Mester de Juglaría): Performed by minstrels.
  • Poetry of Clergy (Mester de Clerecía): Written by educated clerics.

Theater

  • Religious Theater.
  • Profane Theater.

Prose

  • Historical Books.
  • Brief Stories.
  • Story Books.
  • Travel Novels.
  • Narrative poetry with medieval historical characters.

Function and Transmission of Medieval Literature

Intent and Purpose

  • To convey information or news.
  • As a tool for propaganda.
  • To serve as a resource for moral or religious instruction.

Expression and Transmission

  • Primarily popular and oral transmission.

Mester de Juglaría: The Art of Minstrels

Themes of Minstrelsy

  • Cycle of the Counts of Castile.
  • Cycle of the Cid.
  • French Cycle.

Stylistic Features

  • Frequent use of fixed formulas.
  • Employment of epic epithets.
  • Appeals directly to the public.

The Cantar de Mio Cid

Authorship and Dating

  • Author: Anonymous.
  • Dating: Early thirteenth century.
  • Minstrels: Drafted by two minstrels, Gormaz Medina and Stephen.

Argument and Structure

  • Three main arguments (or parts):
    1. Singing the Song of the Exile.
    2. The Wedding Song.
    3. The Reproach of Corpes.

Central Theme

  • Recovery and social advancement of honor.

Expressive Style

  • Peculiar features of the Castilian epic.
  • Abundant enumerations.
  • Extensive use of fixed formulas.

Mester de Clerecía: Clerical Poetry

Key Characteristics

  • Authors: Clerics, often with artistic consideration for their own work.
  • Stanza Feature: Employment of a characteristic stanza (cuaderna vía).
  • Source: Primarily bookish and learned sources.

Style

  • Cultism: Use of learned vocabulary and rhetorical figures.
  • Incorporates some features of minstrelsy to appeal to a wider audience.

Notable Authors and Anonymous Works

  • Authors: Gonzalo de Berceo (a key figure).
  • Anonymous Works:
    • The Book of Alexander: Chronicles the life of Alexander the Great.
    • The Book of Apollonius: Narrates the rugged adventures of King Apollonius of Tyre.

Gonzalo de Berceo: A Cleric’s Legacy

Author and Life

  • Background: A monk from La Rioja, deeply invested in his works.
  • Period: Lived during the first half of the thirteenth century.
  • Ministry: Served at San Millán de la Cogolla.
  • Education: Likely studied at universities in Palencia, influenced by the Way of St. James throughout his life.

Religious Literary Production

  • Lives of Saints: Four works, including San Millan life of the buds.
  • Exaltation of the Virgin Mary: Three works, notably Miracles of Our Lady (Milagros de Nuestra Señora).

Miracles of Our Lady (Milagros de Nuestra Señora)

Central Topic

  • Praises the devotion to the Mother of God and highlights the benefits offered to those who revere her.

Types of Miracles

  • Miracles where the Virgin acts prior to human intervention: 11 miracles, e.g., “The Chasuble on Saint Ildefonso.”
  • Miracles of Forgiveness: 8 miracles where the Virgin conceals or excuses sin, e.g., “The Shameless Sexton.”
  • Miracles of Conversion or Crisis: 6 miracles where the Virgin helps overcome trouble through prayer, e.g., “The Miracle of Theophilus.”

Structure

  • Presentation of a devout character facing difficulty.
  • Invocation of Mary.
  • Resolution of the problem through Mary’s intervention.

Characters

  • 13 characters in total: 11 religious, 2 secular.

Style and Resources

  • Apparent simplicity and innocence, which appealed to later generations (e.g., Generation of ’98).
  • Use of rhetorical resources: repetitions, diminutives, elements of nature.

Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita: A Unique Voice

Author’s Life

  • Birth: Born in Alcalá de Henares in 1283.
  • Education: Studied in Toledo.
  • Role: Served as Archpriest in Hita.
  • Personality: A man of broad culture, known for enjoying “the good life,” which was unconventional for a cleric and may have led to his imprisonment.

The Book of Good Love (Libro de Buen Amor)

Only Known Work

  • A singular and influential work.

Main Elements

  • Narrative and lyrical compositions.
  • Incorporates fables.
  • Features an allegorical theme.
  • Includes satires.

Central Theme

  • The contrast between “good love” (divine, spiritual) and “mad love” (carnal, worldly).
  • The author ultimately defends “good love.”

Style and Resources

  • Vivid and expressive language.
  • Great variety of verse forms.
  • “Verbal wealth” (rich vocabulary).
  • Clever word games.
  • Use of diminutives.