Catalan Literature: A Journey Through Time
Medieval Period
The Catalan language boasts prominent medieval writers such as Ramon Llull (13th century), known for his prose, and Ausiàs March (15th century), celebrated for his poetry. Following a golden age culminating with Joan Roís de Corella’s Tirant lo Blanc (published in 1490), Catalan literature experienced a period of decline, spanning from the 16th century to 1833.
Decline and Renaissance (16th-19th Centuries)
The 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries witnessed a decline in Catalan literature,
Read MorePostwar Valencian Poetry (1939-1962)
The strict postwar period (1939-1962) includes writers born in the 1910s and 1920s who began writing immediately after the war. Aesthetically, they aligned with post-symbolism or realism. This group includes Joan Valls, Joan Fuster, Vicent Andrés Estellés, and Xavier Casp.
Vicent Andrés Estellés (1924-1993)
He is considered the greatest Valencian poet since the 15th century. Born in Burjassot, his poems constantly allude to the suffering caused by the Franco regime. Note that publication dates
Read More18th-Century Spanish Literature: Neoclassicism
Prose
Characteristics
- Dissemination of Enlightenment ideas, contributing to reform.
- Books on multiple disciplines (science, archaeology, etc.).
- First newspapers and publications.
- Limited prose fiction.
Authors
Diego de Torres Villarroel
- Follower of Quevedo.
- Criticized doctors, civil servants, nobles, etc.
- Autobiography: Life, Descent, Birth, Upbringing and Adventures of Doctor Don Diego de Torres Villarroel.
Francisco Isla
- Ridiculed Baroque ecclesiastical rhetoric.
- Satirical novel: History of the Famous Preacher
Evolution of the Spanish Language: From Latin Origins to Modern Varieties
Unit 2: The Spanish Language: Origins and Variety Development
Origins
- Pre-Roman Languages: Before the Romans, there was no linguistic unity. Different peoples coexisted: Vascones (northern Pyrenees to Ebro), Celts (north and west), Iberians (east), Celtiberians (center), and colonies of Greeks, Phoenicians, etc. (coasts).
- Romanization: Romans occupied the peninsula from 218 BC, imposing their language. All pre-Roman languages were lost except for Basque. A less complex, vulgar Latin was used.
- The Visigoths:
Renaissance, Humanism, and Spanish Literature’s Golden Age
Origin of the Renaissance
In the late Middle Ages, the rising bourgeoisie and economic prosperity fostered an optimistic worldview. Intellectuals rediscovered and imitated classical Greek subjects, forms, and attitudes. Five powerful Italian states—Florence, Venice, Milan, the Papal States, and Naples—became patrons of the arts.
Key Figures of 15th-Century Italian Culture
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio shaped 15th-century Italian culture, alongside the transformative invention of printing.
Renaissance
Medieval Literature: Class, Gender, and Genre
Medieval Literature: Exploring Class and Gender
The Intersection of Social Class and Literary Production
During the Middle Ages, a strong link existed between social class and the creation of literary texts. The earliest epic poems emerged from the warrior nobility, celebrating heroic deeds and battles. Knights and other figures associated with warfare were the protagonists of these epic narratives.
The Evolution of Noble Literature
By the 12th century, noble literature transformed. The novel gained
Read More