Key Figures in Medieval Castilian Literature: Ruiz, Berceo, and Alfonso X
Key Figures in Medieval Castilian Literature
Juan Ruiz de Hita, Arcipreste
Nothing is known with certainty about this writer’s life, beyond the data he provides in his only work, The Book of Good Love. This is the most important work of clergy in the 14th century. It is an autobiographical work written in a way that reflects the new values provided by the bourgeoisie: the enjoyment of the pleasures of life. It also presents the continuing debate between religious and secular sense. The author’s intention
Read MoreMiguel Hernández: Exploring Themes of Love, Life, and Death
Love, Life, and Death in Miguel Hernández’s Poetry
The poetry of Miguel Hernández is pure vitalism, present in his life, blood, passion, war, and love in all its intensity, while death is a constant presence throughout life.
“Perito en lunas”
“Perito en lunas” is an homage to Góngora and an exercise in style, reflecting the intellectual trends of the Generation of ’27. Love, life, and death do not appear with great intensity in this work.
“El rayo que no cesa” (The Ray That Does Not Stop)
The theme
Read MoreSpanish Poetry: 20th Century to Post-War Era
This period encompasses diverse literary movements and figures. To present an organized view of the poetry of this era, we propose the following literary moments:
- Renewal of lyric.
- Turn-of-the-century poetry: literary vanguard, Juan Ramón Jiménez, and Generation of ’27.
- Poetry marked by war.
Modernism and Generation of ’98
Modernism is an artistic movement that emerged in Europe and America during the late 19th century in response to the crisis of the century. Poetry emerged with the goal of formal
Read MoreValencian Dialects & Catalan Poetry After 1940
Valencian South
It is spoken in the region of Safor, part of Ribera Baja, the Coast, County Vall d’Albaida, Alcoià, Marina Alta, and Marina Baja.
- Phonetics: Trend of vowel harmony: all-end is pronounced as the unstressed syllable preceding or open, or open and tonic above.
- Morphosyntax: Substitution of the weak second-person pronoun you or the form the by the form is.
The Alicante Dialect
Extends throughout the counties of Alicante, Bajo Vinalopó, and Vinalopó.
- Phonetics:
- Alicante dialect also presents
Romanesque Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting
Examples of Romanesque Architecture
Cluny
The Abbey of Cluny III in France, now mostly destroyed, was a fundamentally important Romanesque monastery. It was considered the most extraordinary creation of the early Middle Ages. It was destroyed during the French Revolution, and only one arm of the transept remains. The abbey was made up of five naves, two transepts, and a large ambulatory.
Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela houses the remains of the Apostle James
Read MoreFederico García Lorca’s Theatrical Works and Realism
Federico García Lorca’s Theatrical Works
The drama of Federico García Lorca is comparable in value to his poetry. He wrote his most famous works from 1930, and they maintain a strong thematic coherence. Lorca’s central themes are: love (both homosexual and heterosexual), impossible desire (the conflict between reality and desire), frustration, and tragic fate.
Modern Drama
Lorca’s dramatic creation began in his youth with some modernist influences. Some of his best-known titles from this period are:
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