12th-14th Century Spanish Translation & Literature
The Evolution of Translation and Prose in Medieval Spain
The School of Toledo Translators
In the twelfth century, the School of Toledo translators focused on translating Arabic texts into Latin and Hebrew. These translations served an educational purpose. From the thirteenth century, the first translations into Castilian Romance began. Two famous Eastern collections of parables, Sendebar and Kalila and Dimna, were translated into Castilian.
Alfonso X the Wise
King Alfonso X the Wise significantly contributed to the field of translation. While his political and military endeavors were less successful, his cultural achievements were substantial. He continued the work started by the School of Toledo translators, but with a crucial difference: he shifted the translation focus from Latin to Castilian Romance. This change provided Castilian with greater flexibility and capacity. Alfonso X surrounded himself with a large group of scholars and translators.
Works of Alfonso X
- Law: Treatises on laws and jurisprudence.
- Historical: The most important are: Crónica General (General Chronicle) and Grande e General Estoria (Great and General History).
- Scientific: Translations of Arabic treatises on astronomy and astrology, including Libro del saber de astronomía (Book of Knowledge of Astronomy), Lapidario (Lapidary), and Tablas Alfonsíes (Alfonsine Tables).
Language and Style of Alfonso X
While not yet fully developed literary prose, Alfonso X’s work aimed to provide written expression with agility and flexibility, addressing issues of intellectual and artistic creativity. Despite the monarch’s corrective efforts, the prose had limited aesthetic value. Alfonso X’s great success was elevating Castilian to the level of Latin as a vehicle for cultural transmission, stabilizing and unifying its orthography.
Don Juan Manuel
In the fourteenth century, Castilian prose works proliferated. A prominent author of this period was Don Juan Manuel. The most significant innovation was the introduction of fiction; works no longer had a purely historical character but became literary. The cultivated genre was the fable or story, grouped into collections with didactic aims. The fourteenth century saw the rise of literary prose.
Life of Don Juan Manuel
Don Juan Manuel belonged to the highest nobility and is a significant figure in fourteenth-century prose. His dedication to culture and literature makes him arguably the first Castilian author with full authorial awareness.
Traits of Individuality
- Writes personally.
- Does not merely translate, but reworks material.
- Acts not as a disseminator of culture, but as an educator.
- Intrudes personally in the work.
The Count Lucanor
The Count Lucanor is Don Juan Manuel’s most important work. It follows a didactic approach, aiming to teach while entertaining. It consists of five books: 51 Examples, 100 proverbs, and a treatise on the salvation of the soul.
Structure of The Count Lucanor
- Dialogue: A problem is presented by Lucanor’s servant, who seeks advice.
- Response: Count Lucanor responds indirectly through a story or tale told by Patronio.
- Application: A didactic example is applied to the problem.
- Moral: Don Juan Manuel includes his own intervention with a moral.
Don Juan Manuel’s Style
Don Juan Manuel forged his own style, characterized by clarity, conciseness, and precision. His brevity and conciseness contributed to a more prescriptive approach. He was very proud of his work and style, meticulously overseeing copies of his writings to prevent errors or unauthorized changes.