The Spanish Picaresque Novel: Lazarillo de Tormes
Fernando de Rojas and La Celestina
Authorship and Origins
Early 20th-century critics debated whether La Celestina had a single author, believing a work so masterful must be the product of one mind. Some even speculated that Fernando de Rojas was a pseudonym. However, modern criticism supports the authenticity of the author’s letter, which suggests a collaborative origin. The first act, written in short paragraphs and drawing on different sources of inspiration, differs from the rest of the play.
Fernando
Read MoreEvolution of the Spanish Language: From Medieval Origins to Modern Varieties
Evolution of the Spanish Language
Siglo XV: Many Uncertainties, Different Solutions
The 15th century witnessed a period of linguistic evolution in the Spanish language, marked by uncertainties and diverse solutions. Some notable features include:
- Hesitation between -t/-d: bondad (goodness)
- Alternating f-/h-: fazer/hazer (to do), folgar/holgar (to rest)
- Hesitation in consonant clusters: duda (doubt)
- Changes in unstressed vowels: vertud (virtue), bevir (to live)
- Archaic and double verb forms: seyendo (being)
Medieval Spanish Literature
Castilian Lyric
In the traditional lyric, the carol, a structure based on a chorus, stands out. The cultivated or lyric was written in the Galician court until the fourteenth century, and its subject is courtly love, typical of troubadour poetry.
Traditional Lyric
These poems have a love theme (female and male) and explore the joy of love and the pain of absence.
Compositions appear as Albada, serranillas, and harvest songs.
A very common composition is the carol, combining a chorus and a longer verse
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Picaresque & Chivalry
Social Causes of the Picaresque
Four causes determine the appearance of the picaresque:
Unemployment: Caused by the expulsion of the Jews, which led to significant job losses and economic hardship. This was compounded by the loss of wealth and businesses in the Americas.
Purity of Blood: Society divided based on lineage, with those of mixed ancestry or Jewish descent facing discrimination.
The Counter-Reformation Conflict: The Church’s attempt to suppress reformist ideas led to the Council of Trent,
Spanish Literature from the 27th Generation to 1975
Commercial Mailbox
Influence of Classical and Pure Poetry
The poets of the Generation of ’27 were influenced by classic Spanish literature (Góngora, Bécquer, and J.R. Jiménez). This influence is evident in their use of traditional forms (e.g., the hendecasyllable) seen in works like Alberti’s Brick and Mortar. Bécquer’s presence is felt in the love poetry of Salinas, such as The Voice Due to You and Reason of Love. J.R. Jiménez’s pure poetry influences Guillén’s Cántico.
- The Voice Due to You:
The Poem of the Cid: A Spanish Epic Hero
Analysis of the Poem
The Poem of the Cid, a cornerstone of Spanish epic literature, is rooted in historical events and geographical realities. It masterfully interweaves real-world elements with fantastical embellishments, such as the abduction of the Cid’s daughters by the Infantes of Carrión, to heighten the dramatic impact of key moments.
The Cid’s Life and History
To fully appreciate the Cid’s literary character, understanding his historical context is crucial. Around 1000 AD, the kingdoms of
Read More