Renaissance Humanism and Literary Theory in Spain
Humanism in Renaissance Spain
Humanism in Spain flourished through several key periods:
The Catholic Monarchs and Early Humanism
With the Catholic Monarchs, humanistic culture was fostered by the political regime and the international political situation. Key figures include Antonio de Nebrija, and we can point to the founding of the University of Alcalá de Henares. Cardinal Cisneros founded a university, distinct from medieval models, where humanities were fused with religious studies. He also published the second Hebrew Bible with a philological character.
Charles V and the Erasmian Influence
With Charles V, a period influenced by Erasmus emerged, encompassing both religious and secular thought. This era emphasized harmony among peoples and fostered inner meditation from a religious point of view. It was a moment of glory before 1530, featuring major Spanish humanists like Alfonso de Valdés (secretary of the emperor) and Juan de Valdés.
Post-1530: Religious Divisions and Debates
Since 1530, the separation between Catholic and Protestant factions intensified, leading to the loss of power by Erasmians, which culminated in their prosecution. Erasmus himself was eventually blacklisted by the Papacy.
The Debate on Indigenous Humanity
A significant debate concerned whether the indigenous peoples of the colonial territories were human beings. Two main positions emerged: one affirmed their humanity, possessing souls and capable of salvation, while the other argued they could be enslaved as inferiors. The defender of slavery was Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, a humanist who based his defense on Aristotle. The defense of freedom was championed by a Dominican priest, who advocated for Christian morality without compromise.
Literary Theory of Renaissance Humanism
The literary theory of humanism in the Renaissance, particularly concerning poetry and the principles of literary composition, would remain influential throughout the Modern Age and even into Romanticism. Its foundations lay in the classical era, arising from three key elements:
- Ingenium: The innate qualities of each individual.
- Ars: A set of rules of composition, or literary technique.
- Doctrina: The knowledge learned.
These three elements initiated the process of literary creation, guided by the principle of imitatio. To write well was based on imitating well, drawing upon various types of material: ancient models (upon which many variations could be made without denying the original), classical models, biblical texts, and medieval works considered classics (such as Petrarch, Dante, and Boccaccio).
The humanist poet was envisioned as a wise man and scholar, proficient in Latin, though vernacular languages quickly gained prominence, especially in Spain and Italy.
Theories of Imitation in Renaissance Literature
Regarding imitation, two main positions emerged:
Eclectic Imitation: The Bee Metaphor
One position was eclectic imitation, or ‘imitation made,’ a concept already present in antiquity, notably in Seneca’s epistle to Lucilius. Seneca used the metaphor of bees wandering through the countryside, gathering pollen from various flowers to create honey—something distinct and new. Similarly, an author would draw from different sources to create their own original work, embodying the pair of imitatio-variatio. Petrarch, for instance, employed this method to compete with and even surpass existing models, culminating in imitatio-variatio-emulatio.
Ciceronian Imitation: Emulating Excellence
The second position was complementary single or Ciceronian imitation. Instead of drawing from various authors, this approach advocated taking only from the best models, thereby establishing the standard for each style. This implied that the impulse for literary originality was largely set aside, as it was considered difficult to surpass such excellence; one could only approach it, not exceed it.
Legacy of Imitation and Rhetoric
These discussions were important for commonplace books (notebooks) and gained significant importance in 17th and 18th-century encyclopedias, which served as repositories for such ideas and quotations.
The ongoing discussion on imitation ultimately led to a renewed focus on rhetoric—the art of convincing, whether rightly or wrongly. This became a fundamental development in the Baroque era, marking a significant shift in literary and intellectual thought.