San Juan de Baños: Visigothic Church in Palencia, Spain
San Juan de Baños: A Visigothic Architectural Gem
The church of San Juan de Baños features a basilica with three naves and three apses, although only the central apse is authentic. Over the years, it has undergone partial reconstructions, even affecting the original layout. The original plan was widened up to the fourth and final arch, forming a transept that opened onto a triple header consisting of three rectangular chapels. After reconstruction, the side apses disappeared, and the plan was converted
Spanish Literature: Key Authors, Works, and Literary Concepts
Spanish Literature: Key Authors and Concepts
Jorge Guillén (1893-1984)
Jorge Guillén was a prominent representative of pure poetry. His work includes the book Air Ours, which brings together three collections of poems:
- Song: Poems in this collection emphasize the happiness of being alive, using images that suggest lightness and perfection.
- Clamor: This collection addresses issues such as poverty, death, and suffering, which contradict or question the perfection held in Song.
- Tribute: These poems praise
Spanish Courtly Lyric Poetry in the 15th Century
The 15th Century Courtly Lyric
The fifteenth century was a transitional period between medieval and modern times.
Social and Cultural Changes of the 15th Century
Much of the 15th century developed in Spain, but the unification of the realms of Aragon and Castile through the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs restored stability to the country after a civil war. The economy still had a rural, agrarian base. The economic crisis brought social upheaval.
The most crucial renewal of this period occurred in
Read MoreMystical Poetry of Saint John of the Cross and Garcilaso de la Vega
Saint John of the Cross
The importance of Saint John of the Cross derives from three of his poems: Spiritual Canticle, Living Flame of Love, and Dark Night of the Soul. The theme of the three is the same: the mystical union with God, symbolized by the love of a man and a woman. They have two levels: literal and symbolic. The poems describe the mystical process with phases of search and suffering at times, and others that come on suddenly. The religious sense is so subtle that without John’s comments
Read MoreGeneration of ’27: Key Authors and Their Poetic Styles
Generation of ’27: Key Features
The characteristics of the Generation of ’27 include similar ages among its members. For instance, Pedro Salinas was born in 1891, and Luis Cernuda in 1902. They possessed a strong literary culture and intellectual curiosity, and their wealthy family backgrounds allowed them to dedicate themselves to poetry. They maintained liberal political attitudes during the Spanish Civil War and supported the Republic. They primarily worked in Madrid at the Residencia de Estudiantes,
Read MoreMasterpieces of Medieval Spanish Literature: From Cid to Celestina
Medieval Spanish Poetry
- Cancionero poetry often has two thematic focuses: didactic-moral and loving (courtly love). It is abstract and can be difficult to understand. A notable example is the work of Jorge Manrique.
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El Cantar de Mio Cid recounts the deeds of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar. It was composed by two *juglares* (minstrels) and consists of 3,700 lines of irregular syllabic structure. It is divided into three parts:
- *Cantar del Destierro* (Song of Exile)
- *Cantar de las Bodas* (Song of the Wedding)