15th Century Spanish Literature: Origins and Key Authors
This document outlines key aspects of 15th-century Spanish literature, tracing its roots and highlighting significant authors and works.
Historical and Social Context
The 15th century was marked by a theocentric and feudal society in the Iberian Peninsula. The coexistence of three major religions and the clash of cultures during the Reconquista significantly influenced the literature of the time.
Early Manifestations of Castilian
Early forms of Castilian Spanish emerged around the 9th century:
- Glosses: Notes in the margins of books. These are divided into two types: Emilianenses (Castilian and Basque) and Silenses (Silos de Burgos).
- Jarchas: Choruses of moaxajas (Arabic songs or works) translated into Castilian. Their subjects were often love and were divided into requests and complaints.
Mester de Juglaría (Minstrelsy)
Minstrels entertained people through storytelling and song. They recited epic poems and lyrical songs.
Epics
Epic poems narrated the idealized deeds of heroes, such as El Cid.
Poema del Mio Cid
The Poema del Mio Cid is a significant extant text, preserved in the National Library. Although anonymous, it is believed to have been written by two authors and copied by Per Abat in 1207. It contains 3730 lines.
Structure
The poem consists of three parts:
- The Banishment
- The Wedding of Corpes
- The Offense
The argument is summarized in two lines, outlining the Cid’s journey and his daughters’ experiences.
Metric and Characteristics
The poem features irregular verses, ranging from 12 to 16 syllables, with assonance rhyme. It employs simple vocabulary, juxtaposition, coordination, and a mix of present and past tenses. Formulaic expressions are used to engage the audience.
Themes
Key themes include honor, loyalty, courage, friendship, justice, revenge, and Christian values.
Lyric Songs
Poems and songs, especially those focused on courtly love, were prevalent. These lyrics were divided into:
- Provençal (France and Catalonia)
- Galician-Portuguese (songs of love, escarnio, and friend)
- Castilian ballads and palace songs
Mester de Clerecía (Clergy)
The Mester de Clerecía was the art and craft of the clergy, focused on religious and moral instruction.
Themes
Religious themes, such as miracles and the lives of saints, were common, with a didactic mission.
Style
The style was simple, colloquial, and used framing devices and series of verses.
Featured Authors
Gonzalo de Berceo was the first author to sign his works. His writing style was colloquial and emotional.
Works
Berceo wrote three lives of saints (San Millán, San Domingo de Silos, Saint Oria) and Miracles of Our Lady, totaling 25 works. These followed a pattern: a person in danger, imploring the Virgin, the Virgin saving the person, and verses of thanks.
Juan Ruiz de Hita, the Archpriest of Hita, was another significant author from the fourteenth century. His work, The Book of Good Love, was didactic, satirical, humorous, and cheerful.
Other 13th Century Works
King Alfonso X the Wise, a warrior, poet, and intellectual, established Castilian as the official language of law and culture. He founded the School of Translators of Toledo and authored historical, scientific, and legal works. His poetic works included Galician-Portuguese songs to Our Lady.
14th Century: Don Juan Manuel
Don Juan Manuel was a prolific author known for his sober and simple style, focused on didacticism and moralizing. His most famous work was The Count of Lucanor, which followed a pattern: the Count has a problem, Patronio tells a story, and the Count concludes with words of thanks.
15th Century (Italian Influence)
Key authors included the Marquis de Santillana, Juan de Mena, and Jorge Manrique, who wrote Coplas a la muerte de su padre, considered one of the best elegies in Spanish, and created the stanza manriqueña.