Spanish Golden Age: Literature and Authors
The 16th Century: Two Major Stages
From 1511 to 1543, and from 1543 to 1580. New forms emerged, such as the sonnet, the Petrarchan song, trio chains, octava real, and the lira. The sources were the Petrarchan and classical traditions.
Lazarillo de Tormes
Lazarillo de Tormes is an anonymous Spanish novel, written in the first person. The oldest known edition dates back to 1554. This autobiographical work, presented as a letter, depicts the life of Lázaro de Tormes. It contains seven chapters and a prologue. Considered the first modern novel, it is a forerunner of the picaresque novel.
Picaresque Novel
The picaresque novel is a literary genre in prose, pseudo-autobiographical, and very distinctive of Spanish literature, though it transcended into European literature. It emerged during the transition between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, during the so-called Spanish Golden Age. Characteristics include:
- The protagonist is a rogue.
- False autobiography structure.
- Determinism.
- Moralizing and pessimistic ideology.
- Satirical intent and itinerant structure.
- Realism.
Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536)
Garcilaso de la Vega (born in Toledo, died in Nice, 1536) was a poet and soldier of the Spanish Golden Age. He represents the ideal Renaissance man. His work is brief but includes a totality of genres and themes of the posterior tradition.
- Sonnets and songs: poems before 1533.
- Song IV, 1533.
- Song III: later poems.
- Composed pastorals 3: second: Representable part first: written in placements, third: stanzas composed in.
Fray Luis de León (1527-1591)
Fray Luis de León (born in Belmonte, 1527 – died in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, 1591) was an Augustinian monk and professor at the University of Salamanca. His most poetic work is constituted by his odes.
- Metric: Primarily used the lira.
- Themes: The themes of the odes are diverse.
- Style: New poetic language, cultured and refined.
- Beatus ille = praise of the retired life.
- Notable odes: “Ode to Francisco de Salinas”, “Ode to Loarte (Calm Night)”.
- Prose work: Among the most admired prose, including “The Names of Christ” and “The Perfect Wife”.
Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. He was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547 and died in Madrid in 1616. His works include:
- Comedies: “The Captives of Algiers”, entremeses, and the tragedy “Numancia”.
- Pastoral genre: “La Galatea”.
- Byzantine adventure novel: “Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda”.
Don Quixote
Don Quixote is a novel considered the pinnacle of Spanish literature. The first part appeared in 1605 and won a large public reception. It was soon translated into most European languages and is one of the most translated works in the world. Initially, Cervantes’s aim was to combat the rise of chivalric romances by satirizing the story of a gentleman from La Mancha who loses his sanity from reading them, believing himself to be a knight.
Fray Luis de León (1527-1591)
Repeat, see above
Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Repeat, see above
Don Quixote
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