Middle English: From Norman Conquest to Literary Revival
The Rise of Middle English (Late 11th – Late 12th Century)
The Norman Conquest marks the beginning of the Medieval Period of English History. The literary tradition inherited from the Anglo-Saxons was completely transformed because England became an extension of Northern France.
A new Norman French elite came to England and took control of the government and cultural life. The English language was marginalized, and no significant literature survived in English from the end of the 11th century to the
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Baroque Poetry and Medieval Epic
Culteranismo and Formal Complication in Baroque Poetry
Culteranismo and formal complication emerged from the poetry of Góngora and Garcilaso. There was no break between the Renaissance and the Baroque lyric. From the second half of the 16th century, tendencies developed which led to demonstrations. Culteranismo and Conceptismo are not opposites but form part of the aesthetic sensibility that seeks originality, individual genius, and a break from classical equilibrium. Conceptistas squeezed the meanings
Read MoreRenaissance in Spain: Culture, Humanism, and Lyric Poetry
The Renaissance in Spain: A Cultural and Literary Shift
The Renaissance flourished in Italy between the 14th and 16th centuries, eventually spreading to other European countries. In Spain, the Renaissance fully took hold during the reigns of Charles I and Philip II.
Political, Social, and Economic Climate
The 16th century in Spain was marked by political stability, peace, and an abundance of gold and silver from the Americas. Spain emerged as a world power, although continuous conflicts and wars originated
Read MoreSpanish Romanticism: Art, Literature, and Social Impact
Spanish Romanticism: A Movement of Freedom and Passion
Romanticism, a significant social and artistic movement of the nineteenth century, championed the freedom of both the individual and the collective. In Spain, its development was delayed due to the political climate under Ferdinand VII’s absolutist rule. However, following his death in 1833, Romanticism flourished until the latter half of the century.
Rejecting classical constraints, Romanticism prioritized passion over reason, resulting in highly
Read MoreBaroque Literature: Characteristics, Themes, and Key Authors
Baroque Literature
The Baroque period is marked by contrasts and is one of the most splendid artistic periods in Spanish history. The main difference from Renaissance literature lies in the approach to issues and the artificial use of literary devices. The theme presents a bitter and pessimistic vision. The style, unlike the harmony of Renaissance texts, becomes more artificial and complicated to impress the reader with formal and content. Depending on which of these has more weight, two different
Spanish Ballads: History, Origin, and Classification
Old and New Ballads
Ballads: This is the name given to a collection of old ballads of the fifteenth-century romances, which includes the medieval epic tradition (from the ancient epic poems) and some other compounds in the fourteenth century. This is a traditional genre, as these romances are part of the oral tradition of the people, ranging from poems transmitted orally from generation to generation. The compositions are anonymous, and because of their oral transmission, have been rethought over
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