A Journey Through Catalan Literature: From Medieval to Baroque
Catalan Literature: A Historical Overview
Medieval Period
The Rise of Vernacular Literature
Latin’s Influence: While Latin remained the language of the Church, Romance languages, including Catalan, began to emerge in oral and written forms. The Church played a significant role in the development of Catalan literature, with religious texts and performances shaping early literary traditions.
Oral Tradition and the Birth of Courtly Love: Minstrels and singers played a crucial role in disseminating stories
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: Epic Poems, Romances, and Prose
Medieval Spanish Literature
Mester of Minstrelsy
Minstrels were singers, narrators, and actors who entertained people in castles and public spaces. The minstrel craft was learned and practiced like any other occupation, resulting in a school known as the mester (or trade) of minstrelsy.
Mester of Clergy
The clergy also used literature to spread their teachings. This gave rise to the mester de clerecía, or trade of clergymen, who wrote literary works of a religious and moral character.
Epic Poems: The
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: From Epic Poems to Renaissance Beginnings
Mester of Minstrelsy
Minstrels were singers, narrators, and actors who entertained people in castles and other places. The minstrel craft was learned and practiced like any other occupation, resulting in a school known as the mester (or trade) of minstrelsy.
Mester of Clergy
The clergy also used literature to publicize their teachings. Thus emerged the mester de clerecía, or trade of clergymen, who wrote works of a literary character with religious and moral themes.
Epic Poems: The Song of My Cid
This
Read More19th Century Spanish Literature: Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism
1. European Social and Historical Context
Politics
The 19th century began with liberal ideals advocating popular sovereignty and individual freedom of thought and expression. However, the latter half of the century saw a rise in more authoritarian governments supported by the bourgeoisie to protect their privileges.
Society
The estate-based society transitioned into a class-based society, with the bourgeoisie replacing the nobility in power. This era marked the rise of mechanization and the beginnings
Read MoreSpanish Renaissance Literature and Culture: A Comprehensive Overview
Spanish Renaissance: Historical and Cultural Context
Historical Background
The Spanish Renaissance was a period of significant cultural and intellectual flourishing, influenced by major events such as the consolidation of the Spanish Empire under Charles V and the discovery of America in 1492. The reign of Philip II saw military successes but also the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, leading to a period of cultural regression and the rise of the Counter-Reformation.
Factors Contributing to the
Read MoreIntroduction to Spanish Literature
Lyric
Imitation
Lyric imitation proceeds to the state of mind. Speech is very subjective, it develops a story, not just one side, and is usually presented in verse.
Subgenres
Popular song, Petrarchist song, eclogue, hymn, ode.
Metric
Metric addresses the extent of the verses, and their classes and the combinations they can form.
Classes
Simple verses:
- Simple
- Compounds
Stanza and poem:
The lines are grouped into stanzas, which can be isometric or heterometric. The maximum unit is the poem, which can be strophic
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