Poem of the Cid: Summary, Context, and Characters
Poem of Mio Cid
Poem of Mio Cid tells the story of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, also known as “El Cid Campeador.” He was a real historical figure who gained widespread admiration. The poem is the only nearly complete version of a Spanish epic poem that has been preserved. It was composed in the late twelfth century by Per Abbat. The Cid is portrayed as a humane and sensible hero. The central theme revolves around the great warrior’s fall from grace and his subsequent struggle to regain royal favor and honor.
The poem consists of 3730 verses and is divided into three cantares (songs):
- Song of Exile: Despite being a faithful vassal, the king banishes the Cid due to false accusations that he stole money. The Cid leaves his wife and daughters in the care of monks.
- Song of the Wedding: The Cid conquers Valencia and sends a portion of the spoils to the king. The king pardons the Cid, and arrangements are made for the Cid’s daughters to marry the Infantes of Carrión.
- Song of the Corpes Affront: A lion escapes, causing the Infantes to flee in fear, forcing the Cid to subdue the animal. The Cid’s men mock the Infantes. In revenge, the Infantes beat their wives and abandon them. The Cid demands a full and fair trial, which he wins, and he is granted the right to a duel. The Cid and his men are victorious. His daughters eventually marry the kings of Aragon and Navarre, elevating their social standing to the highest level.
13th Century Spain: Historical Context
The Almohad defeat led to the Reconquista by the Christians, significantly reducing the size of Al-Andalus. This period saw a blending of cultures: Christians, Jews, and Muslims. A cultural renaissance occurred, with the founding of early universities (Palencia in 1212, Salamanca in 1218). Monasteries played a crucial role in preserving culture.
14th Century Spain: Crisis and Change
The fourteenth century was marked by a sense of crisis, most notably the Black Plague, which caused widespread death.
Literary Innovations
Romance languages gained prominence as languages of culture. Alfonso X spearheaded the first normalization of the Castilian language. Writers like Ramon Llull demonstrated a new awareness of their craft.
Early Castilian Prose
The first testimonies of Castilian prose are found in glosses preserved in monasteries, dating back to 1252.
The School of Alfonso X
Alfonso X convened meetings of learned individuals—Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin Christians—to translate their knowledge into Castilian. This broadened the scope of the language and transformed it into an official language for new functions.
Alfonso X’s Working Method
Alfonso X personally wrote the *Cantigas de Santa Maria*. He also supervised and directed a team of experts.
Works of Alfonso X
- Law: *Las Siete Partidas*, a compilation of laws.
- History: *Grande e General Estoria*, a comprehensive but unfinished history of Spain, and *Crónica General*.
- Science: Books on astronomy and lapidaries (knowledge of stones).
- Entertainment: *Book of Chess, Dice, and Tables*.
Don Juan Manuel
Don Juan Manuel was an ambitious nobleman, a proud writer, and a nephew of Alfonso X. He embodied the ideal of the time, cultivating both arms and letters. His works have a didactic intention. He drew heavily from Eastern sources, but he sought originality and stylistic freedom, aiming for clarity and conciseness.
He wrote several books, some of which have been lost. Notable works include *Libro del Caballero y el Escudero* and *Libro de los Estados* (about social classes and estates).
*El Conde Lucanor* (Count Lucanor)
*El Conde Lucanor* is a prose work featuring dialogues between Count Lucanor and his advisor, Patronio. It comprises fifty-one stories.
Structure of *El Conde Lucanor*
- Count Lucanor presents a problem to his tutor.
- Patronio tells a relevant story.
- Patronio extracts advice from the narrative.
- The Count applies the advice and achieves success.
- The author decides to include the story in his book and concludes with a moral couplet.
The work has a didactic purpose, addressing social and ethical issues from a nobleman’s perspective, including themes of distrust, loyalty, alliances, the consequences of anger, and the importance of being smart and wise.
His sources are diverse, ranging from Eastern stories and Christian sources to Greek and Latin fables and anecdotes of the time.