Spanish Theater: From Medieval Times to the Baroque Era
Medieval Drama
Characteristics
- Performed in temples, streets, and squares.
- Religious theater was performed by civilians, primarily during Christmas and Easter.
- Originated from liturgical chants and tropes.
- Emergence of secular theater with genres like momos and snacks.
Manifestations
- Auto de los Reyes Magos
- Fiestas de Epifanía
- Misterios
Renaissance Theater
Performed in churches, squares, halls, universities, and by the late 16th century, in corrales de comedias.
Principal Tendencies
- Religious drama
- Italianate
Medieval and Renaissance Theater in Spain
Medieval Drama
Characteristics
- Performed in temples, streets, and squares.
- Religious theater was prevalent during Christmas and Easter.
- Originated from liturgical chants and tropes.
- Emergence of secular theater with performances like momos and snacks.
Manifestations
- Auto de los Reyes Magos
- Fiestas de Epifanía
- Misterios
Renaissance Theater
Performed in churches, squares, halls, universities, and later in the late sixteenth century, in corrales de comedias.
Principal Tendencies
- Religious drama
- Italianate classicism
- Nationalism
- Popular
Lyric Poetry in Medieval Spain: From Provençal Influences to the Cancioneros
Lyric Poetry in Medieval Spain
Knowledgeable Lirica Catalana
Originating in 12th-century Provence, troubadour poetry arrived in Catalonia in the 13th century. This lyric poetry, collected in nearly 100 songbooks, was the work of known authors and expressed in a cultivated and homogenous language. Troubadours sang their compositions, which were also performed by juglares (traveling entertainers).
The troubadours created a fine and difficult art form subject to rigid laws. Versification was based on
Read MoreA Comprehensive Guide to Spanish Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Theater
Medieval Drama
Characteristics
- Performed in temples, streets, and squares.
- Religious theater was prevalent during Christmas and Easter.
- Originated from liturgical chants and tropes.
- Emergence of secular theater with genres like momos and entremeses.
Manifestations
- Auto de los Reyes Magos (play of the Magi)
- Fiestas de Epifanía (Epiphany celebrations)
- Mystery plays
Renaissance Theater
Characteristics
- Performed in churches, squares, halls, universities, and later in corrales de comedias (courtyard theaters).
Principal
Read MoreThe Spanish Novel During the Golden Age: A Comprehensive Guide
ITEM 16: PROSE FICTION: THE NOVEL
The Books of Chivalry: Amadis of Gaul
His Motive
Amadis’s motive was to defend justice and serve his lady.
Structure and Plot
The story follows Amadis, who was thrown into a river at birth and raised by a gentleman. As a young man, he embarks on a quest to discover his origins, leading him on many adventures. He falls in love with Oriana, to whom he remains eternally faithful, and they have a son, Esplandian.
Star
Amadis is the prototype of the invincible hero, chivalrous
Read MoreA Literary Journey Through Time: From Medieval to Baroque Spanish Literature
Socio-cultural-historical Literary Discourse
1. The Middle Ages
Features:
- Works were manuscript preserved, incomplete, lost, or anonymous.
- Literature was transmitted orally (people were largely illiterate).
- Monks were primarily responsible for transcribing works, resulting in a predominantly theocentric focus.
- Genres did not adhere to classical models.
- War was a frequent theme, particularly in the 15th century, with many works exploring death (e.g., Jorge Manrique’s “Couplets to the Death of His Father”