The Poema de Mio Cid: Authorship, Structure, and Style
The Poema de Mio Cid: Authorship Debates
The Spanish medieval epic suffers from a serious shortage of preserved texts. The Poema de Mio Cid is a notable exception, but its origins have been a subject of scholarly debate.
Theories on Authorship
Traditionalist Theory
Represented by Menéndez Pidal, this theory argues that Castilian epics emerged in the immediate aftermath of the events they describe. In the case of the Poema de Mio Cid, Menéndez Pidal states that the work originated and was transmitted
Read MoreSpanish Literary Movements: From Generation of ’98 to Proto-Romanticism
Generation of ’98: Characteristics and Evolution
Azorín, in the newspaper The Impartial, expressed a profound love for art, great sensitivity, and a desire for renewal. He published a list of 98 writers, including Unamuno, Baroja, Maeztu, Darío, Machado, and Blasco Ibáñez.
Shared Characteristics of the Generation of ’98
- Historical Context: The year 1898 is considered the ideological thread linking these authors, despite their diverse individual paths.
- Lack of Group Publications: This group did not
Francisco de Quevedo: Life, Philosophy, and Literary Legacy
Francisco de Quevedo: Life and Legacy
Born in Madrid in 1580 and died in 1645 in Villanueva de los Infantes, Francisco de Quevedo possessed solid scholarship. He was actively involved in political activity and was protected by the Duke of Osuna, though he did not gain the favor of the Duke of Olivares. He faced confinement in jail, notably in San Marcos de León. Lawsuits, disease, economic hardships, and a failed marriage beset him in the last years of his life.
His personality was complex and contradictory:
Read MoreLexicon Fundamentals: Word Origins, Formation, and Meaning
Understanding the Lexicon
The lexicon of a language is constantly evolving, influenced by historical events, cultural exchanges, and the inherent need for new expressions. This document explores various aspects of lexical development and semantic concepts.
Word Origins and Influences
Heritage Words (Patrimonial Words)
These are words that have been part of the language since its origins, evolving naturally from Latin after its imposition on the Iberian Peninsula. Examples: Nocte > noite > night;
Read MoreSpanish Novelists: Baroja, Unamuno, Azorín, Valle-Inclán
Pío Baroja’s Novelistic Vision
Pío Baroja, a prominent novelist before the Spanish Civil War, championed a novel open to all possibilities and proclaimed absolute freedom for the writer’s design. For Baroja, the novel is a genre that accommodates everything from philosophical reflection and criticism to adventure and humor. All these elements are reflected in his novels, though he has a particular preference for characters often involved in adventure.
Characteristics of Baroja’s Novels
- His misfit
Lazarillo de Tormes: Picaresque Novel Analysis
Lazarillo de Tormes: Birth of the Picaresque Novel
Lazarillo de Tormes opens a new subgenre: the picaresque novel. It is a pseudo-autobiographical story about the origins of a miserable character, Lázaro, who is soon abandoned by his family and provides service to several masters. The picaresque protagonist has a strong character and a desire to thrive. Picaresque stories often attempt to explain a final statement of dishonor.
Authorship and Early Editions
Dated in 1554, the earliest known editions
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