Satire as Social and Political Commentary in 18th-Century Literature
This essay discusses the role of satire as a tool for political and social criticism in eighteenth-century literature, focusing on authors who incorporated it into their works.
The Age of Satire
The 18th century is often called the Age of Satire due to satire’s significant influence on literature, appearing in drama, prose, essays, and novels. This period saw the rise of wit and reason, with satire used to ridicule social conventions and expose the flaws and hypocrisy of society, particularly among
Read MoreCharacteristics of Literary Language and Genres
Characteristics of Literary Language
Literary language is characterized by its distinct features across different genres:
Lyric
Lyric emphasizes self-expression, often using:
- First-person perspective
- Exclamations, appeals, and evaluative adjectives
- Repetition of phonic, morphosyntactic, or semantic resources
Narrative
Narrative, whether in verse or prose, focuses on:
- Verbal actions
- Setting, dialogue, and narration
- A narrator (the narrative voice that guides and brings life to the characters)
Theater
Theater
Read MoreLa Celestina: Unveiling Love, Death, and Greed
La Celestina: A 15th-Century Masterpiece
The Matchmaker, originally published anonymously in 1499 as *Comedy of Calisto and Melibea*, consisted of 16 acts. The following year, it was reissued with the author’s name, Fernando de Rojas. In 1502, it was printed with a new title, *Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea*, and significant expansions. This final text became known as *La Celestina*, named after the work’s most prominent character.
The book was an enormous success, with numerous editions published
Read MoreAngel Gonzalez: Analysis of Poetic Works and Themes
The Poetic Career of Angel Gonzalez
The Gonzalez’s poetic career began with the book Rough World. In this book, the poet shows the individual as a parallel path that follows the story. These two concepts of individualism and community are closely linked with the purpose that the poet makes known to himself while learning to understand others. The poems are marked by pessimism, and even social poetry does not appear clearly.
With Conviction, Without Hope
The second book he writes is With Conviction,
Read MoreSaint Vincent Ferrer: Life, Sermons, and 15th-Century Influence
Saint Vincent Ferrer: Life, Sermons, and Influence
Saint Vincent Ferrer (born in Valencia in 1350, not 1750) achieved universal fame throughout his life. His sermons were renowned for their ability to turn people away from vice and to teach Christian morality. He was a great traveler and visited countries like Spain, France, Switzerland, and Italy. He was a master of theology and a counselor to kings.
Saint Vincent Ferrer is a very important figure for two reasons: his significant literary work and
Read MoreFernando de Rojas’ La Celestina: Summary & Characters
Fernando De Rojas and *La Celestina*
After much controversy, criticism seems to have agreed that, as indicated by the acronyms and a letter to a friend, the author of the entire work, except for Act I, is Fernando de Rojas. Fernando de Rojas was born in Puebla de Montalbán (Toledo) around 1470 and studied law at Salamanca. He then moved to Talavera de la Reina (where he appears to have been mayor), married, had six children, and died in 1541. Among the possessions he left upon his death, his library
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