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)
Spanish Literature: 14th-15th Century Authors and Works
Don Juan Manuel
His most important work was The Count Lucanor. His fame consists of 51 stories, reasoning, 100 proverbs, sayings, and 80 more in a moral or doctrinal treatise.
The Count Lucanor
The author frames the stories in a fictional framework. This framework serves Don Juan Manuel in order to combine the various stories.
Structure of the Stories
- The narrator presents the count and his advisor, Lucanor Patronio.
- Narration.
- Patronio gives his advice in line with the teaching that follows the story.
Salvador Espriu and Vicent Andrés Estellés: Post-War Catalan Poetry
Salvador Espriu: A Literary Analysis
This text analyzes the work of Salvador Espriu, focusing on his fiction, drama, and poetry. After the war, secrecy became a characteristic to bypass censorship. The work of Salvador Espriu is unitary, incorporating myth and tradition precisely to express literary concerns and circumstances. His work is influenced by mythological readings and the Bible. The myth of Sinera is always present in his work and represents:
- The world of childhood lost in the Civil War
- His