Medieval Spanish Literature: Romances, Clerics, and Miracles
The Romance: An Epic Poem
The epic poem of the century often took the form of a romance. In dates such as 14 and 15, a romance is a variable-length poem written in eight-syllable lines with rhyming verses. Assonance and unexpected pairings are common.
Themes
- Historical: Political events in the history of the Christian kingdoms of the Peninsula. These can focus on a character or the funding of a major news broadcast. Events at the border, such as the recapture and reporting of Moorish war developments,
Valencian Romanticism and the Renaixença Movement
1.4 Topics of Romanticism
The “Wrong Century”
The melancholy mood that preceded many young Romantic authors. The necessity of escape from reality.
The Nostalgia of the Past
The yearning for escape led many authors to admire the institution of chivalry.
The “I”
The “I” became the essential Romantic source of inspiration. This led to the rejection of classical artistic rules, considered artificial and inadequate to express the complexity of the human spirit.
Nature
Romantics often poured their feelings into
Read MoreRomanticism in Spain: Characteristics, Authors, and Works
Romanticism: A Shift from Neoclassical Rationalism
Romanticism emerged as a counter-movement to the rationalist ideas of Neoclassicism. It shifted away from reason, exalting sentiments and emotions. Key characteristics include:
- Irrationalism: Emphasis on mysterious and fantastic elements that reason cannot explain.
- Intimacy and Subjectivism: Focus on personal feelings, often including nostalgia and melancholy.
- Individualism: Emphasis on the individual’s self in relation to their surroundings.
- Disillusionment:
Humanism in the Crown of Aragon: Bernat Metge and Lo Somni
Humanism in the Crown of Aragon
Humanism in the Crown of Aragon was influenced by political contacts and trade with Italy, particularly regarding the Papal Court of Avignon. The influence of Italian authors is primarily evident in prose. During the reign of Peter IV of Aragon, translations of important classical texts began, facilitated by the royal chancery.
Royal Chancery
Peter IV of Aragon reorganized the Royal Chancery, a crucial department within the Royal Palace. It employed writers, notaries,
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: Traditional, Popular, and Courtly Forms
Characteristics of Traditional, Popular, and Lyrical Poetry
Traditional, popular, and lyrical poetry were broadcast by minstrels (jarchas mozárabes, cantigas de amigo, and villancicos). Medieval traditional lyric poetry manifested itself spontaneously in Galician, Castilian, and Catalan Mozarabic. It was transmitted orally by diffusion.
Features:
- The theme is the confidences of a young woman in love, expressed to her mother, her sisters, her friends, or to the loved one, the sea, etc.
- Nature and the
Ancient Greek Drama: Tragedy, Comedy, and Key Playwrights
Ancient Greek Drama
Drama is a significant phenomenon of Greek culture. When discussing Greek tragedy, we refer to the extant works: 7 by Aeschylus, 7 by Sophocles, and 18 by Euripides. These plays span almost 80 years. The poet encourages reflection by viewers who identify with the characters. The performances took place during the Rural Dionysia and the Great Dionysia.
Setting the Scene
- Actors: Poets themselves sometimes acted, and female characters were represented by men. The number of actors changed