Castilian Epic Poetry: The Song of Mio Cid
The Epic Poem
The epic poem is a poetic expression composed of a series of narratives in verse. Epics recount the exploits of a hero. They formed part of oral culture and memory and were recited by minstrels. The epic emerged in Castile in the 12th century.
Features of the Epic Poem
- Historical Character: The world of the epics is that of warriors and battle heroes. These heroes are sometimes adorned with superhuman virtues.
- Hero Figure: The hero embodies the fate of his people and spreads the ideals of the feudal class to which he belongs.
- Structure: The epic compositions were formed by long sets of lines whose measurements ranged between 14 and 16 syllables, divided into two hemistiches separated by a pause called a caesura.
Castilian Epic
Compared to the epic of French origin, the Castilian epic was always much more realistic and sober. Of the latter, only three poems are preserved:
- Cantar de Roncesvalles (dates from the 12th century, and only approximately 100 verses are preserved)
- Mocedades de Rodrigo (dating from the 14th century)
- Cantar de Mio Cid (12th century, almost complete)
The Epic: Cantar de Mio Cid
Cantar de Mio Cid chronicles the exploits of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as “El Cid.” The song tells how King Alfonso VI stripped El Cid of his property and banished him from Castile. Thanks to his actions, El Cid regained his lost honor. El Cantar de Mio Cid is the process of glorifying the hero. Aspects of Rodrigo’s personality:
- Royal Loyalty: El Cid is faithful and loyal to the king, although the king ignores the slander uttered by Rodrigo’s enemies. El Cid leaves Castile but does not rebel against his lord.
- Consideration and Honor: Rodrigo gets the royal pardon and ends up marrying into royal lineages. His daughters end up marrying the princes of Navarre and Aragon.
- Personal Effort and Faith in God: Rodrigo’s virtue is based on the Christian faith, loyalty to his king, justice with his subjects, love for his family, and courage under fire.
- Measure: In all his work, El Cid always shows wisdom, and he can show his affection.
El Cantar de Mio Cid is preserved in a manuscript with an end note indicating that “Per Abbat” wrote it in May of 1207.
Structure of the Song of the Cid
The Song is divided into three parts:
- Song of Exile: El Cid is banished from Castile by Alfonso VI. He leaves his family in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña and takes the road of exile. He sends gifts to the king in order to get a pardon.
- Song of the Wedding: It tells of the conquest of Valencia. A new embassy is sent to King Alfonso VI, and the gifts arouse the greed of the princes of Carrión, who ask for the hand of the Cid’s daughters. The king intervenes and forgives El Cid.
- Song of the Shame of Corpes: The heirs of Carrión demonstrate cowardice and seek revenge. They ask El Cid for permission to take their daughters to the lands of Carrión, but they abandon them in the oak grove of Corpes. El Cid asks the king for justice, and the king summons Cortes in Toledo. A trial is held, and the princes are defeated in a duel. The song ends with the request of the princes of Navarre and Aragon to marry Doña Elvira and Doña Sol.
Style
The Song is written with great realism. Ritual formulas:
- Epic epithets (adjectives used to highlight the characteristics of the hero)
- Pleonasm (adding needless expressive elements)
- Appeals to the public (intended to keep the reader or viewer)
- Use of the Arabic particle “ya” (oh)
- Frequent removal of the verb (elimination of the verbal forms)
- Rhetorical repetitions (repetitions of the same concept with different words)