15th Century Spanish Literature: Key Authors and Movements
15th Century Spain: A Time of Change
The fifteenth century was a time of significant change for Spain. After internal crises in the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile, and the Hundred Years’ War, things improved politically with the marriage of Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. During their reign, critical events took place, such as the end of the Reconquista and the discovery of America. This era saw trade development and the growth of cities, favoring the bourgeoisie. Culture became a sign of distinction between nobles and bourgeois. Courts and universities began to replace monasteries as centers of learning. Humanism spread, and around 1450, Gutenberg invented the printing press.
Sources of Pre-Renaissance Literature
The humanist movement led to the recovery of Latin and renewed Italian literature. The concept of ideal love became the basis of Spanish poetry in the fifteenth century.
Pre-Renaissance Literature
Pre-Renaissance literature experienced dramatic changes:
- Writers moved from anonymity to signing their works.
- The focus shifted from religious to secular themes.
- The figure of the nobleman dedicated to both arms and writing emerged.
Poetry
Cancionero Cultured Poetry
A. This poetry conceives love as a courtier and literary game. The author addresses verses to his lady.
B. Allegorical poetry deals with philosophical themes (fortune, fame, death). Notable authors include the Marquis de Santillana and Juan de Mena.
Folk Poetry: The Romances
Romances are poems in octosyllabic form with assonance in even lines. They are characterized by their expressive and dramatic nature, often using dialogues and monologues.
Theater Until the 15th Century
In the Middle Ages, there were two types of representations: tropes and liturgical dramas (short dramatizations of parts of the Mass) and derision games (satirical works of the 15th century). Emerging writers included Juan del Encina and Gomez Manrique. The most important dramatic piece of this period is La Celestina by Fernando Rojas.
Jorge Manrique (1440-1479): Verses
Jorge Manrique is the author of one of the most important works of Spanish lyric: “Verses”, written on the death of his father. It reflects on life, death, time, and the memory of loved ones. It consists of 40 verses (couplets or manriqueñas), each comprised of 2 sextuplets. The style of “Verses” is known for its contained emotion. The poem can be divided into four parts:
- Meditation on the transience of life.
- Examples illustrating the fugacity of life.
- Evocation of Don Rodrigo Manrique, the author’s father.
- The account of Don Rodrigo’s death.
Fernando de Rojas (1476-1538): La Celestina
Fernando de Rojas came from a Jewish family. In the preface, he wrote that he found the first act written by another author. The play recounts the love of Calisto and Melibea, fostered by an old bawd (Celestina), which ends tragically. Its purpose is moral, criticizing irresponsible and irrational acts of love. It also considers life a constant struggle, causing pain and misery.
Minoyes
A. Direct Object: Appoints the being or object that directly receives the action of the verb (buy something).
B. Indirect Object: Designates the recipient of the action, jointly appointed by the verb and direct object (give something to someone).
C. Prepositional Complement: Introduced by a preposition required by the verb (repent of something).
D. Adverbial: Expresses circumstances that frame the action of the verb (place, time, manner, etc.).
E. Complement Agent: Appoints the being taking the action in passive sentences (written by him).
F. Predicative Supplement: Names a quality or condition of the subject or direct object (she wore proud of your gift).