Medieval Literature: Society, Culture, and Key Themes
Introduction to Medieval Literature
In 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire fell to various groups often referred to as barbarians, who occupied its provinces (e.g., France by the Franks, Italy by the Ostrogoths, England by the Angles and Saxons). The period from the late 5th to the 15th or 16th century is known as the Middle Ages. This era generally concluded with the discovery of America (1492) in most European countries, although cultural shifts began earlier in places like Italy, around the 13th
Read MoreFamous Spanish Romances: El Cid, Abenamar, Prisoner, Arnaldos
Romance of El Cid: Diego Lainez
This romance belongs to the Cid cycle. Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid, is the most famous figure of the medieval epic. R. Díaz de Vivar, a historical character of the 11th century, was an intelligent member of the pequeña nobleza (lesser nobility) who would later face the high nobility in the struggle for power and social advancement.
The epic poem of the Cid, which led to the romances, focused on transmitting the values of the good vassal, featuring a gentleman respectful
Read MoreLorem Ipsum: From Cicero to Modern Typesetting
Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum…
There is no one who loves pain itself…
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release
Read MoreJonathan Swift: Satire, Politics, and Reason in 18th Century Britain
18th Century English Politics: Whigs and Tories
The two main political parties in England during the 18th century were the Whigs and the Tories:
- Tories: Represented the landed gentry, supported the monarch over Parliament, and upheld the Church of England.
- Whigs: Generally favoured Parliament over the monarch and were more associated with commercial interests and religious tolerance for non-Anglican Protestants.
William III and Mary II, who preceded Queen Anne, were associated with the Whigs. They had
Read MoreSpanish Literary Movements: Novecentismo, Vanguardia & Gen ’27
Spanish Literary Movements: Early 20th Century
Novecentismo and Vanguardia (Avant-Garde) are literary movements that arose in the first half of the 20th century, often seen as a reaction to the perceived exhaustion of Modernism.
Novecentismo
Primarily a Spanish movement, Novecentismo authors focused on intellectualism, formal precision, and aesthetic concerns, striving for a “pure” or “naked” poetry (poesía desnuda).
Key Genres and Figures:
- Essay: José Ortega y Gasset stands out as a major figure,
Literary Genres: A Comprehensive Exploration
Literary Genres: An Overview
Lyric Genre
Lyric: Expresses feelings and thoughts, where the writer’s subjectivity prevails. Usually written in verse, but can also be in prose.
Epic Genre
Epic: Tells real or imagined events that have happened to the poet or someone else. It is highly objective in nature and traditionally expressed in verse.
Drama Genre
Drama: This genre is used in the theater, where the author outlines various conflicts through dialogue and characters. It can be written in verse or prose,
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