A Concise History of Catalan Literature

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 in Latin

The Origins of Language

Catalan originated from Vulgar Latin, which degraded and fragmented into various Romance languages between the 7th and 8th centuries. The earliest Catalan texts, The Forum ludicum d’Organya and the Homilies, date from the 12th century.

Medieval Literature (13th-15th Centuries)

Catalan prose reached a level of quality and variety unmatched by other Romance Literatures during this period.

Prose

  • Moral and Religious Prose: Ramon Llull’s work established Catalan literary scholarship, surprising readers with its maturity. Francesc Eiximenis and San Vicente Ferrer promoted the dissemination of Christian doctrine and morality.
  • Historical Narrative: Chronicles provided narrative accounts of historical events, often experienced or witnessed firsthand. These aimed to defend Catalan politics and the Catalan kings.
  • Moral and Philosophical Prose: Bernat Metge explored classical medieval themes such as the immortality of the soul, good and evil, love, and women.
  • Chivalric Novels: Curial e Güelfa, an anonymous work, and Tirant lo Blanc, by Joanot Martorell, exemplify the fantastic tradition of Arthurian romances.

Poetry

  • 12th-13th Centuries: Early Catalan troubadours primarily wrote in Occitan. Notable figures include Guillem de Berguedà and Guillem de Cabestany.
  • 14th-Early 15th Centuries: Catalan poets continued to follow the troubadour tradition. Key figures include Gilabert de Próixita, Andreu Febrer, and Jordi de Sant Jordi.
  • 15th Century: Ausiàs March broke away from the troubadour tradition, creating highly original poetry centered on the spiritual suffering caused by love.

Literature Between the 16th and 18th Centuries

Catalan literature experienced a decline due to social and political factors, including the relocation of the royal court to Castile and the gradual loss of political and cultural sovereignty.

  • The Renaissance (16th Century): This period placed humanity at the center of the universe. Notable authors include Cristòfor Despuig, Pere Serafí, and Joan Timoneda.
  • The Baroque (17th Century): This period expressed the spiritual crisis caused by religious wars. Key figures include Francesc Fontanella and Francesc Vicent Garcia.
  • The Enlightenment (18th Century): This period saw a renewed faith in human potential and rational thought. Notable authors include Blai Reixac, Baró de Maldà, and Joan Ramis.

Popular literature based on oral tradition persisted, with representative genres including poetry, prose, religious drama, and secular theater.

The 19th Century: The Renaixença

The Renaixença was a literary and cultural movement that aimed to revive the use of Catalan in literature and incorporate contemporary European literary trends, particularly Romanticism and Realism.

  • The publication of Oda a la Pàtria by Bonaventura Carles Aribau in 1833 is often considered the starting point of the Renaixença.
  • In 1841, Joaquim Rubió i Ors advocated for a literature independent of Spanish, drawing inspiration from medieval Catalan literature and reviving the Jocs Florals (Floral Games).
  • The movement flourished in various genres, with prominent figures like Àngel Guimerà, Narcís Oller, and Jacint Verdaguer.
  • The Renaixença peaked in the 1870s and 1880s, eventually giving way to Modernism in the last decade of the century.

Language, Literature, and Identity

  • In the 19th century, Catalan was in a state of diglossia, used primarily in private and oral settings, while Castilian Spanish dominated public and written communication.
  • Renaixença authors saw themselves as heirs to the classical literature of the troubadours and medieval Catalan writers.
  • The identification of Catalan language and culture with the concept of “pàtria” (homeland) fostered a strong sense of cultural belonging.
  • Literary creation in Catalan became a cultural, civic, and political act.

Contemporary Literature (Late 19th Century-Present)

  • Modernism (1891-1911): This movement aimed to Europeanize and normalize Catalan literature after the Renaixença. Key figures include Caterina Albert and Joan Maragall.
  • Noucentisme (1906-1923): This aesthetic and ideological movement served the economic development and political autonomy goals of the Catalan bourgeoisie. It prioritized essays and poetry over the novel. Notable authors include Eugeni d’Ors and Josep Carner.
  • Avant-garde (1916-1938): These radical movements broke with literary tradition, primarily focusing on poetry. Key figures include Joan Salvat-Papasseit and J.V. Foix.
  • Renewal in the 1920s and 1930s: Poetry continued the symbolist tradition, the novel saw a resurgence, and theater experienced a revival. Notable authors include Carles Riba, Josep Maria de Sagarra, and Josep Pla.
  • Literature of War and Post-War Exile (1939-1959): The Franco regime’s suppression of Catalan language and culture heavily impacted literature. Key figures include Joan Oliver, Mercè Rodoreda, and Salvador Espriu.
  • Renewal in the 1960s and 1970s: Literature adapted to the changing social and cultural landscape. Notable authors include Pere Calders, Manuel de Pedrolo, Miquel Martí i Pol, and Joan Brossa.
  • 1980s-Present: Catalan literature is undergoing a normalization process, mirroring the revitalization of the language and culture.