15th-Century Spanish Literature: Pre-Renaissance & Popular Lyric Poetry

Posted on Oct 13, 2024 in Latin

The Pre-Renaissance in 15th-Century Spain

Historical and Cultural Context

The 15th century, a period known as the pre-Renaissance, represents a transitional phase marked by political, social, and moral crises. Traditional medieval ideas coexisted with a new perspective on life that emerged during the Renaissance. The literary works of this era can be categorized into two parallel strands, each distinguished by its origin, audience, themes, and language:

  1. Traditional Folk Poetry: This includes traditional lyric poetry and ballads.
  2. Courtly Literature: This genre, encompassing courtly poetry, novels, and sentimental romances, originated in the royal courts.

Factors Contributing to the Crisis

Two significant events led to the crisis of the 15th century, impacting all levels of society:

  1. Humanism: This intellectual movement challenged faith-based perspectives and fostered a spirit of inquiry, critical thinking, and appreciation for classical languages and literature.
  2. The Invention of Printing: The mid-15th-century invention of the printing press facilitated the dissemination of written culture and played a role in the spread of popular literature.

Political, Social, and Moral Crisis

Political Crisis

The monarchy’s authority weakened, leading to a loss of political stability. Kings delegated governance to their favorites, while the nobility, empowered by royal patronage, gained influence and challenged both the monarchy and each other. This lawlessness resulted in the neglect of the Reconquista and widespread poverty. The situation persisted until the Catholic Monarchs ascended the throne at the end of the century, restoring royal authority.

Moral Crisis

The established medieval worldview, which maintained a rigid social order and guided the transition from earthly to eternal life, faced a crisis. This era witnessed instability in beliefs:

  1. The theocentric view of the medieval world was questioned.
  2. A spirit of rebellion emerged against the rigid social hierarchy, perceived by some as a tool for the oppression of the lower classes.
  3. The boundaries between the divine and the human, between faith in salvation and the pleasures of earthly life, began to blur.
  4. Fortune and death became prominent figures, instilling anxiety and insecurity.

Castilian Popular Lyric Poetry

Forms and Origins

Castilian popular lyric poetry of the 15th century manifests in two forms: traditional lyric poetry and the romance (ballad). Although the earliest written examples date from this century, the tradition predates them. Its preservation is attributed to the compilation of songs in various songbooks of the time (representing cultured lyric poetry).

Popular lyric poetry, created by anonymous authors, originated among the common people and was transmitted orally across generations. It arose from specific circumstances—festivals, work, etc.—but explored universal themes: love, death, and loneliness. It lacked a moralizing intent, focusing solely on expressing emotions. Its meter is irregular, tending towards verses of six and eight syllables.

This popular lyric tradition existed throughout the Iberian Peninsula:

  1. The jarchas in Al-Andalus during the 11th and 12th centuries, written in Mozarabic.
  2. The cantigas de amigo in Galician-Portuguese lyric poetry of the 13th and 14th centuries.
  3. The villancicos in Castilian lyric poetry, also predating the 15th century.

The Villancico

One common form in popular lyric poetry is the villancico, which has the following structure:

  1. Opening lines, partially or fully repeated to form the chorus.
  2. A stanza, typically of four lines.
  3. Two or more connecting lines, one rhyming with the stanza and another, called the vuelta (return line), rhyming with the chorus.

Themes and Style

The main themes of traditional Castilian lyric poetry are love and nature, often intertwined, resulting in various types of songs:

  1. Songs of the female lover: These deal with the absence, neglect, or death of the beloved.
  2. Songs of the male lover: These praise the beauty of the beloved and lament her indifference.
  3. Work songs: These relate to hunting, domestic chores, etc.
  4. Festival songs: These celebrate the arrival of spring, pilgrimages, etc.
  5. Mountain songs (serranillas): These depict a gallant knight encountering a shepherdess.

These compositions share common themes and styles. In most, a girl laments the departure, neglect, or absence of a confidant, often her mother or nature. They favor short verses and employ simple, repetitive language.