The Bible and Classical Literature: Origins and Evolution
The Bible was written primarily in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. The transmission of the Bible initially relied on oral tradition before being written down. This process began around the time of King David and Solomon. Several authors, writing styles, and periods contributed to the final text. The Old Testament was largely completed by the 1st century BC.
Genesis explains the creation of the universe by God as a triumph of order against chaos, culminating
Read MoreMester de Clerecía: Origins, Characteristics, and Key Figures
Mester de Clerecía: An Overview
- Thirteenth to the fourteenth century. Literary school.
- Cultivated by the clergy (who were any educated person with legal and ecclesiastical Latin education).
- Incorporation of the vernacular to reach out to ordinary people.
- Coexisted with mester de juglaría (minstrelsy). Both use the same language, target the same audience, and supply popular topics.
- Think of the illiterate people for whom the writer wrote.
Metric: Poems written in stanzas of Alexandrine verse (14 syllables
El Cid: An Epic Poem of Honor, Exile, and Triumph
The single epic poem is almost complete, preserved in a manuscript of 3730 verses kept in the National Library of Madrid. The manuscript is dated 1207 and signed by Per Abbat, presumably a mere copyist. Past studies have proposed a date of composition around the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. Early authorship agreements suggest it could be the work of a cultured poet, drawing on both epic oral traditions and literary sources.
Argument
The poem is structured in three parts:
Song of
Read MoreRomantic & Reneixença Poetry: Key Authors & Themes
Romantic Lyric Poetry: An Overview
Romantic lyric poetry stands out as being suitable for the expression of feelings. In Germany, Goethe was a prominent author. In England, Byron, author of The Corsair, is a prototypical romantic hero.
Two Kinds of Poetry
- Lyric Poetry: Focuses on the expression of feelings. The style is often rhetorical and bombastic. The metric is innovative, employing polymetry. Main themes include feelings, the ideal woman, the broken heart, and the landscape reflecting the poet’
Celestina: Religious Heritage and Theatrical Vitality
This document explores the religious heritage and theatrical vitality of the fifteenth-century play, Celestina.
Authors and Themes
The play features profane themes, poetic verses, and a variety of characters. It distinguishes between two main types:
- Religious drama: Related to the life of Jesus.
- Profane theater: Pieces mocking derision of games, themes of love, and pastoral settings.
Authorship and Publishing
The play’s initial publication occurred in Burgos in 1499, comprising 16 acts. Later editions
Read MoreValle-Inclán, Baroja, and Generation of ’27: Spanish Literature
Ramón del Valle-Inclán
Born in Pontevedra, Spain, Ramón del Valle-Inclán’s family intended for him to study law. However, he abandoned his studies to pursue his literary vocation in Madrid. He was a man dedicated to literature, and his extravagant figure is notable. His thought was an image of opposition to the politics and society of his time. He opted for two routes: escape and criticism. The first was an escape or evasion to an archaic and traditional society, represented by the Carlist current,
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