Catalan Literature: Key Authors and Works
The Four Great Chronicles
Background
Catalan literature reached its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries, coinciding with political unity and the rise of a distinct social and historical genre. The emergence of a unified Catalan identity led to the recording of significant national events.
Origin of the Chronicles
The four major chronicles are attributed to:
- James I (The Book of Deeds)
- Bernard Desclot (The Book of King Peter and His Predecessors)
- Ramon Muntaner (Ramon Muntaner’s Chronicle)
- Peter the Ceremonious
Baroque Theater: Religious, Court, and Corral Stages
Three Methods of Theater in the 17th Century
During the seventeenth century, Baroque theater reached its greatest fullness. The three forms that coexisted in this period were:
-
Religious Drama
- Developed through the sacramental mystery.
- Short pieces that developed in one act and presented characters in abstract form of allegory.
- Sought religious subjects in which a conflict between good and evil, where good always triumphs.
- Represented at the celebration of Corpus.
- In the Counter-Reformation, it was an
Spanish Theater: Post-War Trends and Key Playwrights
Background
Like all genres, the theater has been undergoing profound changes since the beginning of the century, affecting both literary and performance aspects.
The first trend is a reaction to realism. The second is expressionist theater, which distorts reality and emphasizes theatricality.
The third trend is surreal drama, which breaks with the aforementioned trends and incorporates the illogical nature of dreams and delusions.
This leads us to an important and striking movement: the theater of the
Read MoreMass Media and Literature: From 19th Century to Today
Mass Media
- Radio: A means of communication that is fast and cheap, and principally uses the spoken word to inform, entertain, and educate.
- Television: The most influential medium of communication due to its ability to unite image and word.
- Newspaper: Aims to transmit real, objective, and current information, using the written word and images.
- Internet: Has it all.
Nineteenth Century
Realism stems from the Guide and Cervantes, and continues in the novel of the eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century,
Read MoreDon Quixote: A Literary Masterpiece by Cervantes
Don Quixote: A Literary Masterpiece
Publication History
The first part of Don Quixote, titled The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, was published in 1605. It consists of a prologue, burlesque poems, and 52 chapters grouped into four parts. The second part was published in 1615 with a title change: The Ingenious Knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. It consists of a prologue and 74 chapters.
Sources of Inspiration
Besides drawing inspiration from various narrative models such as pastoral, Byzantine,
Read MoreAncient Rome: From Republic to Empire and Its Legacy
1. Rome: The Empire City
Roman civilization developed around the Mediterranean, which the Romans called Mare Nostrum, Latin for “our sea”. The city of Rome was the cradle of this civilization. Situated on the River Tiber in the Italian Peninsula, the formation of the empire was a long process. Rome conquered all territories in the Italian Peninsula. This mixed territory had quite different peoples, but all were subject to Roman authority. With some peoples, varying degrees of covenants were established
Read More