Medieval Spanish Literature: “Cid”, “Love”, and More
“El Mio Cid”: An Epic of Exile and Honor
The poem “El Mio Cid”, composed before 1499, is attributed to multiple authors, including Stephen of Gozman (responsible for the Cid’s banishment, weddings, and the affront at Corpes) and Medina (who reformed the original poem, adding the remaining parts and simplifying the rhymes).
The poem consists of three parts:
- Song of Exile
- Wedding of Metric
- Affront at Corpes
It features irregular meter (6, 7, or 8 syllables per line), assonance, and unequal rhymes.
Artistic
Read MoreSurrealism and the Generation of ’27: Spanish Literature
Surrealism: The Revolutionary Avant-Garde Movement
Surrealism emerged as the most revolutionary and far-reaching avant-garde movement. Originating in 1924, its revolutionary character is evident in its ambition to transform human life. Artistic creation was seen as a path to freedom. Surrealists also employed automatic writing, where the writer transcribes thoughts that occupy their mind when close to sleep. Another technique used was collage (the union of words cut from newspapers, magazines, etc.
Read MoreSpanish Theater and Narrative: From Post-War to Modernism
TP 40-50: Benaventine conventional surface comedy featuring conservative bourgeois characters, luxurious spaces, and refined humor. Key figures include:
- José María Pemán: Known for historic theater pieces like The Divine Impatient.
- Joaquín Calvo Sotelo: Famous for comedies such as The Visit That I Ring the Bell and serious dramas like The Wall.
- Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena: Author of Who Am I?, Don Jose, Pepe and Pepito.
- José López Rubio: Known for Twenty and Forty, Never Late.
- Victor Ruiz Iriarte:
Evolution of the Spanish Language: Origins to Present
Historical Evolution of the Spanish Language
The current linguistic situation in Spain is the result of a historical evolution influenced by a number of linguistic, political, and cultural factors. Except for Euskera, all peninsular languages are derived from Latin. Before Roman colonization, the Iberian Peninsula was home to a great diversity of peoples from various cultures, such as Celtiberians, Germans, and others. This resulted in linguistic heterogeneity, with a number of different languages
Ancient Greek Temples and Theaters: Architecture & Design
Ancient Greek Religious Buildings
The temple is the most characteristic monument of Greek architecture. The Greeks considered such buildings absolutely necessary for the worship of their gods. Actually, only an outdoor altar was necessary. The Greeks began to make laws that their gods had to take shelter to protect them, and that is why the temples were built.
Temples, either stone or wood, used to have a simple structure, consisting of a single room which was entered through a portico. The temple
Read MoreJorge Manrique and Fernando de Rojas: Key Works Analysis
Jorge Manrique: Couplets on the Death of His Father
Jorge Manrique (c. 1440-1479) began as a poet of the cancionero style but went a step further, authoring one of the most important works of Spanish lyric poetry: Verses on the Death of His Father. It is an elegy in which the author reflects in an intimate and personal way about life, death, time, and the memory of loved ones. The elegy is composed of forty stanzas called coplas manriqueñas. Each stanza is formed by two sextets, according to this
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