Analysis of Medieval Spanish Literature: Count Lucanor Tales
Chapter XXII: The Lion and the Bull
Count Lucanor consulted Patronio about a powerful and honest friend who seemed to be turning against him. Patronio advised him with a fable about a bull and a lion, emphasizing the importance of not losing a good friend due to false rumors.
Moral:
“For a liar’s false words, do not lose a good and helpful friend.”
Chapter XXVI: The Lying Tree
Count Lucanor expressed his concern about troublemakers and liars who were trying to harm his reputation. Patronio told him a story about the only time good and evil joined, highlighting the importance of truthfulness.
Moral:
“Follow the truth and flee from lies, for those who lie will suffer for their bad deeds.”
Chapter XXXII: The King and the Scoffers
Count Lucanor sought advice on how to deal with a situation where someone offered him great benefits but also posed a risk to his finances and life. Patronio told him a story about a king and some scoffers, emphasizing the importance of caution and discretion.
Moral:
“If someone advises you to hide something from your friends, know that they want to deceive you without witnesses.”
Chapter XXXV: The Strong and Violent Woman
Count Lucanor’s servant was considering marrying a wealthy and high-ranking woman, but she was known for her fierce and violent nature. Patronio told him a story about a man who married a woman who beat him, highlighting the importance of establishing oneself early in a relationship.
Moral:
“If at first you do not show who you are, ever after when you want [to], you will not be able to.”
Chapter XLII: The Pious Hypocrite
Count Lucanor and others were discussing the ways in which a bad person could cause the most harm. Patronio told a story about a pious hypocrite, emphasizing the importance of actions over appearances.
Moral:
Attend to your actions and not just your appearances if you want protection from bad experiences.
Chapter XLV: The Man and the Devil
Count Lucanor was approached by a man who claimed to know many ways to predict the future and manipulate others. Patronio told him a story about a man who befriended the devil, highlighting the dangers of such associations.
Moral:
“He who does not hope in God will die a miserable death and will have mishaps.”
Variant “le/les”
This variant appears when the reflexive subject performs and receives the action at once. It usually functions as a direct object, except when there is another direct object in the sentence, in which case it becomes an indirect object. E.g., Juan is combing his hair (Juan performs the action while also being combed).
Reciprocal Variant
This variant requires a plural subject and indicates that both entities of the subject are performing the action to each other. Like the reflexive variant, it is a direct object unless there is already another direct object in the sentence, in which case it becomes an indirect object. E.g., John and Peter are kicking each other (assuming John kicks Peter and vice versa).
Impersonal Variant
This sentence structure is built with “se” and has no subject. E.g., Children are punished.
Pronoun “se”
This “se” is required by the verb and can change its meaning or be used to construct the sentence in a specific way. E.g., They paid little attention to the problem (the verb is “ignore it,” not *”ignore”).
Passive “se”
Similar to the periphrastic passive, the subject does not perform the action but receives it. The best way to identify this structure is to transform it into the periphrastic passive. E.g., Results were known = The results were made known.