Catalan Literature: A Journey Through Medieval & Renaissance
Humanism (14th-16th Centuries)
Influences: Greco-Latin language and culture.Key Figures: Bernat Metge (1340-1414) known for his skeptical attitude.
Curial e Güelfa (15th Century)
Author: Joanot Martorell
Characteristics: Verisimilitude, humor, sensuality. The protagonist is a knight.
Themes: Chivalry, courtly love, social ascension.
The Song of Gestes (12th-15th Centuries)
Evolution from the First Chansons de Geste:
- Characters: Shift from real heroes to fantastical ones.
- Setting: From real locations to
Medieval Literary Thought: From Antiquity to the 12th Century
The Absence of Empirical-Rationalist Theories
While the Middle Ages lacked empirical-rationalist literary theories, it fostered significant reflections on beauty and interpretation that profoundly impacted Western culture, especially literary thought.
The Shift in Ideologies
Several factors shaped the medieval approach to literature: the decline of humanist culture in the Roman Empire, the rise of ideologies influenced by Plato and spiritualism, and the fusion of Greek myths and Judeo-Christian thought.
Read MoreTraditional Spanish Poetry: From Ballads to Manrique
Traditional Poetry: The Ballads
The set of anonymous and traditional ballads, called “old ballads” to differentiate them from those written by known poets in later centuries (referred to as “new ballads”), seems to have originated from the fragmentation of medieval epic poems. In this process, each hemistich of the epic poem became a full line with a caesura in the ballad. However, while this theory may apply to epic ballads, others are directly related to traditional lyric poetry. The oldest known
Read MoreFray Luis de León and San Juan de la Cruz: An Overview
Fray Luis de León (1527-1591)
Biographical Profile
Fray Luis de León was born in Belmonte in 1527 and died in 1591. He studied at Salamanca and entered the Order of St. Augustine as a teenager. A theologian, philosopher, philologist, and humanist, he held several professorships at the University of Salamanca. His translation of the Song of Songs from Hebrew and theological differences with the Dominicans led to a lengthy Inquisition process, resulting in imprisonment in Valladolid for several years.
Read MorePio Baroja: A Life and Literary Legacy
Pio Baroja: Biographical Sketch
Pio Baroja was born in San Sebastian and spent most of his life in Madrid. He studied medicine, obtaining his doctorate with a thesis on pain. However, his medical practice in Cestona was brief. Returning to Madrid, he connected with writers like Azorín and Maeztu, which inspired him to pursue his true calling: literature.
After contributing to newspapers and magazines, he published his first book in 1900. A period of intense writing followed, combined with travels
Latin American Narrative: Magical Realism
What is Magical Realism?
Magical realism, a prominent feature of Latin American narrative, emerged in the 1940s. It emphasizes the unique cultural identity of the Americas by blending realism and fantasy. This fusion reflects the distinct characteristics of the American experience.
Magical realism presents fantastical elements as integral parts of reality. Extraordinary events seamlessly intertwine with everyday life, blurring the lines between the ordinary and the extraordinary. This approach characterizes
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