Spanish Literature of the Golden Age: A Comprehensive Overview

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 in Latin

Spanish Literature of the Golden Age

Lazarillo de Tormes

Oldest Edition: 1554 (Burgos, Alcalá, Medina del Campo, Antwerp)
1559: Censored
1573: Republished with the 4th and 5th treatises removed
1834: Published in full

Authorship: Anonymous due to its strong clerical and social criticism. Speculated to be Jewish or Erasmian.

Main Character: Lázaro, an antihero.

Structure:

  • Foreword
  • Treatise I (Blind Man)
  • Treatise II (Priest of Maqueda)
  • Treatise III (Squire)
  • Treatise IV (Friar of the Indulgence)
  • Treatise V (Pardoner)
  • Treatise VI (Chaplain)
  • Treatise VII (Sheriff)

Narrative Structure: Progressive and linear.

Themes: Social and religious satire.

Style: Simple, natural, and plain.

Significance: Represents the beginning of the modern novel.

Miguel de Cervantes

Biography

  • Born in 1547 in Alcalá de Henares.
  • Lived in Valladolid, Sevilla, and eventually settled in Madrid.
  • Participated in the Battle of Lepanto and lost his left hand.
  • 1575: Began captivity in Algiers.
  • 1584: Had an illegitimate daughter, then married Catalina de Salazar.
  • 1597: Jailed in Seville.
  • 1616: Died (April 23rd).

Characteristics

  • Resilient in the face of adversity.
  • Gentle by nature.
  • Intelligent and knowledgeable of humanist thought.

Works

Lyric Poetry
  • Journey to Parnassus
  • Songs, Romances, Sonnets
  • Bizarre Sonnets (e.g., Epitaph for Philip II)
Epic Poetry
  • Pastoral Novel: La Galatea
  • Moorish Novel: The Captive’s Tale
  • Chivalric Novel: Don Quixote de la Mancha
  • Byzantine Novel: The Travails of Persiles and Sigismunda
  • Picaresque Novel: Rinconete y Cortadillo
Exemplary Novels
  • Idealistic: The Spanish Englishwoman
  • Realistic: Rinconete y Cortadillo, The Dialogue of the Dogs
  • Idealistic-Realistic: The Gypsy, The Illustrious Kitchen Maid, The Licensed Glassmaker, The Two Damsels, The Jealous Extremaduran
Dramatic Works
  • Comedies: The Gallant Numancia, The Siege of Numantia
  • Treatment of Algiers (influenced by Lope de Rueda)
Don Quixote
  • Part 1 (1605): Chapters 1-7 and 8 (introduction of Sancho Panza)
  • Part 2 (1615): Don Quixote and Sancho on the Island of Barataria
Style
  • Baroque (17th century)
  • Natural and simple

The 17th Century in Spain: An Era of Crisis

Political Landscape: Decline during the reigns of Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II. Rise of the validos (royal favorites).

Economic and Social Aspects:

  • Population decline (estimated one-fourth).
  • Nobility and Church maintained their status.
  • Bourgeoisie faced obstacles.
  • Decline in trade and industry.
  • Agricultural decline exacerbated by the expulsion of the Moors.
  • Rural exodus to cities.
  • Social instability, anxiety, and discontent.

Culture

  • Discouragement, disillusionment, pessimism, and instability.
  • Contradictions: Contrasts, light and dark, dualism.
  • Dramatic disproportion.
  • Departure from classical culture.
  • Intensity: Aiming to excite and move.

Themes in Literature

  • Disillusionment: The world is seen as worthless, life as short and fleeting.
  • Vitalism vs. Asceticism: Frustrated vitalism, obsession with death.
  • Internal conflict and accommodation.

Literary Trends

  • Conceptismo: Emphasis on wit and ingenuity (Quevedo).
  • Culteranismo: Emphasis on elaborate form and language (Góngora).

Luis de Góngora y Argote

Biography

  • Born in Córdoba in 1561, died in 1627.
  • Studied at Salamanca, ordained as a priest.
  • Royal chaplain of Philip III.
  • Known for his austere, arrogant, and aggressive temperament, leading to conflicts with Quevedo and Lope de Vega.

Lyrical Work: Two Eras

  • Before 1610: “Prince of Light” – Letrillas, Romances, characteristics of Culteranismo.
  • From 1610: “Prince of Darkness” – Sonnets, Soledades, Polyphemus and Galatea.

Style

  • Innovative, full of rhetorical figures.
  • Cultism: Embellished language and complex syntax.

Francisco de Quevedo

Biography

  • Born in Madrid in 1580, died in Villanueva de los Infantes in 1645.
  • Studied with the Jesuits and at Alcalá de Henares.
  • Advisor to the Duke of Osuna.
  • Banished to the Tower of Juan Abad.
  • Returned to the court of Philip IV.
  • 1639: Imprisoned for four years.

Genres

Lyrical Poetry
  • Metaphysical poetry reflecting a tragic view of life.
  • Moral poetry: Against corruption.
  • Religious poetry: A way to overcome anxiety and despair.
  • Love poetry: Following the Petrarchan model.
  • Satirical poetry: Attacking vices and defects.
Narrative
  • Picaresque novel: The Life of Buscón.
  • Satirical novel: Dreams.
  • Moral novel: Letters from the Knight of the Tenorio.
  • Political novel: Política de Dios, gobierno de Cristo y tiranía de Satanás.

Style

  • Conceptismo: Emphasis on meaning and wit.
  • Precise and sharp language.
  • Double meanings and wordplay.

17th-Century Spanish Theater

Types

  • Popular Theater: Comedias de capa y espada (cloak and sword plays).
    • Male characters: Gallants, braggarts.
    • Female characters: Clever and witty women.
    • Noble characters: Set in palaces.
    • Interspersed with loas (prologues), entremeses (interludes), and dances.
  • Court Theater: Performed indoors with elaborate sets, lighting, and music.
  • Religious Theater: Autos sacramentales (religious plays).

Themes

  • Love, honor, and religion.

New Comedy

  • Three-act structure.
  • Breaks the rule of the three unities.
  • Mixes tragedy and comedy.
  • Variety in meter and tone.

Lope de Vega

Biography

  • Born in Madrid in 1562, died in 1635.
  • Studied in Madrid and Alcalá.
  • Precocious talent and a turbulent love life (Elena Osorio, Isabel de Urbina, Juana de Guardo, Micaela de Luján, Marta de Nevares).
  • Served the Duke of Alba.
  • Known for his lively, passionate, and popular personality.

Works

Lyric Poetry
  • Popular: Romances, letrillas, villancicos.
  • Learned: Rhymes, Sacred Rhymes, Spiritual Rhymes, Sonnets (mostly love poems).
Epic Poetry
  • Dealt with Renaissance and Baroque themes.
  • La Dragontea, La Hermosura de Angélica, Jerusalén conquistada, La Corona trágica.
  • Dorotea (based on his relationship with Elena Osorio).
  • El Isidro, La Filomena, La Circe, El peregrino en su patria.
Dramatic Works
  • New Art of Making Comedies: Changed the rules of theater.
  • Themes: Honor, monarchy, religion.
Plays
  • Spanish History and Legend: Fuenteovejuna, Peribáñez y el Comendador de Ocaña, El caballero de Olmedo.
  • Comedias de capa y espada: El acero de Madrid.
  • Pastoral and Mythological: La Arcadia, Los pastores de Belén.
  • Religious: Lo fingido verdadero, La buena guarda.

Style

  • Dynamic and lively.
  • Simple and popular language.
  • Graceful lyricism.

Pedro Calderón de la Barca

Biography

  • Born in Madrid in 1600, died in 1681.
  • Studied with the Jesuits in Alcalá and Salamanca, focusing on theology.
  • Fought in the Catalan Revolt.
  • Abandoned religious studies to become a playwright.
  • Ordained as a priest in his fifties.
  • Appointed chaplain to King Philip IV.
  • His life and work contrasted with Lope de Vega’s, exploring deeper philosophical and theological themes.