Spanish Golden Age Literature: Humanism and Lyric Poetry

Posted on May 6, 2024 in Spanish

The Humanist Movement

Ancient Roots and Key Elements

The Humanist movement, with its Greco-Latin origins, was a complex and scholarly pursuit. Evidence of this movement can be found in various forms, including archaeological remains like buildings and statues, as well as textual sources.

Three key elements characterized Humanist culture:

  1. Trilingual Proficiency: A perfect humanist was expected to be fluent in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, the latter being essential for studying the Bible (Old Testament in Hebrew, New Testament in Ancient Greek).
  2. Emphasis on Classical Texts: Humanists placed great importance on studying and reviving classical Greek and Roman literature and philosophy.
  3. Focus on Human Potential: Humanism celebrated human capabilities and achievements, emphasizing the importance of education, reason, and individual expression.

Humanism in Spain: Antonio de Nebrija

Antonio de Nebrija, a prominent Spanish humanist, played a crucial role in advancing the movement in Spain. After studying Latin in Italy, he secured a professorship at the University of Salamanca. Nebrija’s two significant works are:

  1. “Introductiones Latinae” (1481): This book aimed to teach the public correct Latin, reviving classical Latin as the foundation of Humanism.
  2. “Gramática de la Lengua Castellana” (1492): This groundbreaking grammar of the Castilian language was revolutionary for several reasons:
  • It facilitated the learning of Castilian by the royal household.
  • It served as an introduction to the comparative study of grammar, showcasing Latin grammar rules.
  • It established a standardized grammar for the Castilian language.

Lyric Poetry of the Golden Age (16th-17th Centuries)

The Golden Age of Spanish literature saw the flourishing of various forms of lyric poetry. Here are four main types:

1. Cancionero Poetry

Originating in the 15th century, Cancionero poetry was preserved and published in songbooks during the Golden Age. It had two main styles:

  • Courtly Love Poetry: Characterized by refined language and exquisite style, this poetry revolved around themes of courtly love and chivalry, often circulating within the royal court and aristocratic circles.
  • Traditional Poetry: This style employed simpler language and dealt with more popular themes, often reflecting the lives and experiences of the common people.

2. Romances (Ballads)

Romances are narrative poems with origins in medieval times. They are typically anonymous, with octosyllabic verses and assonant rhyme schemes. There are two main categories:

  • Old Romances: Dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, these ballads are characterized by their traditional themes and oral transmission.
  • New Romances: Emerging in the 16th century, these romances have known authors and often exhibit a more refined and cultured style.

3. Traditional Lyric Poetry

This category encompasses short, anonymous poems with oral transmission, primarily focusing on themes of love and often featuring a female voice. It originated in the Middle Ages and continued to be popular during the Golden Age.

4. Italianate Poetry

Influenced by Italian Renaissance poetry, this style is divided into two main themes:

  • Love and Longing: These poems explore the pain of unrequited love, often featuring an idealized and unattainable woman, the “donna angelicata.”
  • Nature and Healing: These poems seek solace in nature as a remedy for the suffering caused by love, contrasting with the traditional view of love as a sickness to be cured.

Italianate poetry introduced various poetic forms to Spanish literature, including:

  • Romance: A collection of verses with no set length, typically octosyllabic, with alternating rhyming and non-rhyming lines.
  • Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, usually consisting of two quatrains and two tercets.
  • Tercets: A set of three hendecasyllabic verses with a specific rhyme scheme.
  • Lira: A five-line stanza with a specific syllable count and rhyme scheme.
  • Octava Real: An eight-line stanza with a specific rhyme scheme.
  • Silva: A poem that combines verses of seven and eleven syllables with a free rhyme scheme.
  • Quartet: A four-line stanza with a specific rhyme scheme.
  • Quatrain: A four-line stanza with an ABAB rhyme scheme.
  • Sinalefa: A poetic technique where a word ending in a vowel is combined with the following word beginning with a vowel, creating a single syllable.