Spanish Literature: Clergy, Gonzalo de Berceo, Clauses
The Mester de Clerecía and Medieval Spanish Lyric
Pibal Moore defended the existence of a primitive Castilian popular lyric, transmitted orally until the fifteenth century and of a markedly native style.
Characteristics of the Mester de Clerecía
Refers both to the office of clergymen and to poetic works composed by them. It emerged in the thirteenth century and reached its peak in the sixteenth century. Monasteries and clerics had the function of teaching and transmitting culture.
- Metrics: They use the *cuaderna vía*, a stanza of four verses of the same consonant rhyme. The Alexandrine verse is used.
- Theme: It has the intention of teaching. It deals with religious themes, classical subjects, or constant criticism of society.
- Stylistic Features: The language is more elaborate. One of the most utilized resources is allegory (an idea expressed through symbols or pictures).
Gonzalo de Berceo
Gonzalo de Berceo is the first known Castilian poet, in the late twelfth century. He was educated as a cleric in the monastery of San Millán and served as an administrator.
Berceo and His Work
Berceo’s literary production is often classified into three groups:
- Lives of Saints: In these works, the protagonist is a saint who stands out for their virtues (*Vida de Santo Domingo de Silos*, *Vida de San Millán*, *Vida de Santa Oria*).
- Works on the Virgin: This literary subgenre was cultivated in Europe since the twelfth century. *Milagros de Nuestra Señora* is his most extensive and important work.
The structure of narratives is often this: a person whom the passions of the world have condemned to solitude and abandonment is defended by the Virgin, who then appears as an intercessor between man and God.
Substantive Clauses
Subject, Direct Object, Supplement (introduced by the particle “que” preceded by a preposition. Example: I trust that I will come today) – by an infinitive preceded by a preposition (Example: You remember to water the plants). Attribute, Adjective Complement (Example: The professor is proud that her students learn.) Noun Complement (Example: I have hope that everyone lives in peace).
Subordinate Adverbial Clauses
- Place (where) (Example: Hide where you will not be seen)
- Time (when) (Example: He just appeared when the audience burst into shouting)
- Manner (as, according to) (Example: Answer as you were told)
- Comparative (Example: Pedro reads more books than John)
- Causal (because, then, that) (Example: I’m going to bed because I’m very sleepy)
- Consecutive (hence, then, well, so) (Example: The professor said goodbye until Friday, so do not plan to come on Wednesday)
- Conditional (if) (Example: If you wait for me, we’ll go)
- Concessive (although) (Example: I kept reading even in low light)
- Final (to) (Example: You should go to have your wounds cured)
Verbal Periphrasis
Verb: (I come, I have, begins, often…)
- Necessity and Obligation: tener que + infinitive, haber de + infinitive, deber + infinitive, haber que + infinitive
- Probability: deber de + infinitive, poder + infinitive, may + infinitive, venir a + infinitive, soler + infinitive
- Inceptive: ir a + infinitive, estar para + infinitive, estar a punto de + infinitive, pasar a + infinitive
- Inchoative (start of process): Ponerse a + infinitive, echarse a + infinitive, romper a + infinitive, comenzar a + infinitive
- Durative: estar + gerund, ir + gerund, llevar + gerund, andar + gerund, seguir + gerund, venir + gerund
- Resultative: estar + participle, ser + participle, dejar + participle, llevar + participle, traer + participle, quedar + participle, terminar + participle, acabar + participle
- Reiterative: volver a + infinitive
- Habitual: soler + infinitive, acostumbrar a + infinitive