Medieval Lyric Poetry and Epic Literature in Spain
Origins of Lyric Poetry
The origins of lyric poetry surfaced early on in all cultures because they are indicated through feelings. It was composed not only to be recited but also to be sung. It was always accompanied by music and was often sung by troubadours. A main theme was courtly love, which involved the idealization of the beloved, to whom the poet devoted his life to love and praise. This is known as Provençal lyric poetry.
Mozarabic Lyric Poetry
Mozarabic was the language of Christians living
Read MoreSpanish Poetry Evolution: Civil War to Present
Main Orientations of Spanish Poetry Since the Civil War
1930s: Re-humanization and Social Context
In the 1930s, avant-garde experimentation gave way to a process of re-humanization in literature, reflecting the hectic social context of the time. Poetry became committed to reality, a feature accentuated during the Civil War.
1936-1939: Propaganda and the Rise of Miguel Hernandez
Between 1936 and 1939, both Republican and Nationalist sides developed propaganda. Poems became weapons of struggle, exalting
Read MoreHellenistic Poetry: Authors, Themes, and Influences
Hipponax of Ephesus
Hipponax of Ephesus lived most of his life outside his homeland as an exile. In the surviving fragments, he is very critical and mocks everything, including his life as a cynical beggar who knows the depths of the places where he lived.
Elegy
It was originally a song of mourning, perhaps sung at the funeral banquet. This genre was influenced by the epic form and the subject, used for expressing the needs and problems of the polis. The meter is the elegiac couplet.
Several poets wrote
Read MoreCelestina & Garcilaso de la Vega: Spanish Literature
The Celestina: A Controversial Masterpiece
The Celestina sparked controversy upon its release. Fernando de Rojas claimed to have found the first act already written and decided to continue the work, completing it in 15 days during a vacation. The author of the first act remains unknown. We know that Fernando de Rojas was born and died in Toledo and studied law in Salamanca.
The first edition appeared in Burgos in 1499, titled Comedy of Calisto and Melibea. It had 16 acts, each preceded by a summary.
Read MoreOccitan Troubadour Poetry: Courtly Love, Themes, and Evolution
Occitan: A Romance Language
Occitan: A Romance language, also known as langue d’oc, spoken in regions like Provence, Gascony, and Limousin.
Courtly Love in Troubadour Poetry
Courtly Love: This term describes the amorous ideology characteristic of troubadour poetry. The Lord/Lady (often a married woman) is seen as an excellent and beautiful being. The troubadour, in a suppliant attitude, uses poetry to seek favors from the lady.
Stages and Personalities of Courtly Love
- Bashful Lover: The lover is initially
Medieval Spanish Literature: El Cid, Courtly Love, and Lyric Poetry
El Poema de Mio Cid
El Poema de Mio Cid is a masterpiece of epic Castilian literature from the medieval period, comprising 3730 verses. It is incomplete, and Menéndez Pidal defends the idea of double authorship. The poem is structured into three cantos: Cantar del Destierro, Cantar de las Bodas, and Cantar de la Afrenta de Corpes.
Argument
The poem has two basic storylines:
- The first follows the exile of the Cid, which leads to the conquest and recovery of Valencia, and the restoration of his lost