The Song of the Cid: Themes, Analysis, and Historical Context
The Song of the Cid: An Overview
The Song of the Cid tells the story of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a real historical figure born in 1043. The poem comprises approximately 3700 verses, grouped into monorhythmic series called ‘runs’. These verses vary in syllable count and are divided into two hemistichs by a strong pause. The rhyme is assonant.
Structure of the Poem
- Song of Exile: After passing through Burgos, the Cid leaves his wife and daughters at a monastery and heads towards Moorish lands.
- Song of the
Understanding Popular and Court Poetry of the 15th Century
Popular Poetry: Ballads
The romances, epic compositions, and arrangements defined in verses to be sung or recited use octosyllabic assonance rhyme pairs. These are different from ancient epics and are composed by individual authors.
The Ballad
A compilation from the fifteenth century, romances are anonymous and called old romances from the 16th century onward. They can be of biblical and classical origin, including stories from the Old and New Testaments, tragic events like the Trojan War, and the
Read MoreSpanish Theater Trends in the Early 20th Century
At the beginning of the 20th century, a predominant trend was realistic and naturalistic drama. This was the most commercial form of theater, intended to reflect the social reality of the moment. The characteristics of this stage are:
- Sets that give the viewer the illusion of reality.
- The actor must embody the character as if they were the same person.
- The viewer must forget they are in the theater.
During the first decades of this century, there was a constant renewal of performing trends, mainly due
Read MoreCourtly Love, El Cid, and Medieval Literature: A Deep Dive
The concept of courtly love originated in Provençal poetry, expressing the relationship between a queen and a vassal (a relationship between nobles and vassals known as vassalage). The woman was usually married, and the vassal expressed his feelings. It was cultivated by court poets, the troubadours (men of the court whose job was to write poetry). The stylistic characteristics of medieval lyric poetry are based on Provence:
- Courtly Love
- Rich and varied metrics
- Complex rhetoric
- Developed prescriptive
Spanish Post-War Literature: Novel, Poetry, Theater
Cela: *The Family of Pascual Duarte* and Social Trends
The Family of Pascual Duarte inaugurated a trend of social novels. The Hive, in 1951, introduces new plot elements (sequence) and sometimes even inaugurated objectivism. The omniscient narrator gives his opinion and utilizes a collective character to reflect life in post-war Madrid. The novel articulates itself in sequences, contrasting the lives of its characters, and has an open ending. The style mixes tones, counteracting irony with lyrical
Read MoreSpanish Literature: From Medieval to 20th Century
Key Stages in Spanish Literature
Medieval Literature (11th-14th Centuries)
Early Medieval (Popular Lyric):
- Jarchas (10th-13th centuries)
- Cantigas de amigo (13th-14th centuries)
- Villancicos (15th century)
Learned Poetry (Mester de Clerecía, 13th-14th centuries):
- Gonzalo de Berceo (Milagros de Nuestra Señora)
- Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita (Libro de Buen Amor)
Medieval Epic (Mester de Juglaría, 12th-14th centuries):
- Cantar de Mio Cid (Chanson de Geste)
- Romances (15th century)
Medieval Prose:
- 13th Century: Alfonso