Castilian Prose: Origins and Early Authors
Origins of Prose in Castilian
Although Castilian was the language of daily life and oral communication, written works were typically in Latin, the language of scholars. This began to change in the thirteenth century, after the founding of the first universities, with an increased number of people who could read and write. The first manifestations of literary prose in Castilian appeared in this century.
Alfonso X the Wise (13th Century)
Alfonso X the Wise (1221-1284) was the first prose writer in the Castilian language. His great task was to make the Romance language a language of culture, matching Latin in this sense. By using Castilian as a vehicle for transmitting knowledge and culture, he also aimed to extend it to all who could read, but not in Latin. He surrounded himself with wise men of three religions (Christians, Muslims, and Jews) who wrote, under his direction, important works on general topics such as Crónica, an early history of Spain written in Castilian, and the Grande e General Estoria, the oldest history in Romance.
His works include:
- Siete Partidas (Law)
- Lapidario (The healing power of stones)
- Cantigas de Santa María (Galician-Portuguese)
Don Juan Manuel (14th Century)
Don Juan Manuel (1282-1348), nephew of Alfonso X, was a nobleman who combined military and political activity with writing. He was the first writer in Castilian and the creator of El Conde Lucanor, a set of non-original stories.
Structure of El Conde Lucanor:
- Introduction: Approach to the problem. Patronio tells a story similar to the problem.
- Development: Patronio’s Tale: introduction, middle, and end.
- Final: Application of the story to the problem, the result of the advice, approval of Don Juan Manuel, and the moral.
La Celestina (15th Century)
La Celestina is a humanistic comedy, not intended for performance but to be read aloud. There is no narrator; the text consists of interventions by different characters. Some critics consider it a dialogue novel. In the work itself, it is said to be read with dramatization, related to the classical and humanist drama that Rojas read, but it was never represented.
In 1499, the first edition was published, consisting of 16 acts, and titled Comedia o Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea. In 1502, five new acts were added, and the work became known as Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea, with 21 acts. This was the final version, launched in 1507.
Fernando de Rojas
Fernando de Rojas appears in acrostic verses in the second edition of the work. Little is known of his life. He was born around 1475, was a converted Jew, and died in 1541.
Types of Impersonal Sentences
- Unipersonal: Refer to phenomena of nature.
- Grammaticalized: Use the verbs haber, hacer, and ser.
- Reflexive: Contain a verb conjugated with the reflexive pronoun (e.g., “Aquí se vive bien” – Here, life is good).
- Possible: 3rd person plural (e.g., “Llaman a la puerta” – Someone is knocking on the door).
Sentence Classification by Speaker’s Attitude
- Statements: Positive or negative.
- Interrogative: Ask questions.
- Exclamatory: Express emotions or feelings.
- Hortatory: Express a request, advice, or command (imperative).
- Desiderative: Express a desire.
- Dubitative: Express doubt or uncertainty.
Sentence Classification by Nature of the Predicate
- Attributive: Use copulative verbs (ser, estar, parecer) – copula – passive or active.
- Active:
- Transitive: Have a direct object (CD).
- Intransitive: Do not have a direct object.
- Reciprocal: Involve mutual action (e.g., “Nosotros nos ayudamos” – We help each other).
- Reflexive: The subject performs and receives the action (e.g., “Yo me lavo” – I wash myself).
CRV (Complemento de Régimen Verbal)
Always a prepositional phrase, complements verbs that need to supplement their meaning. It is replaced by “it.” Used in passive sentences.
CA (Complemento Agente)
Always indicates who performs the action of the verb. It is introduced by the preposition “por” (by). Example: “La ciudad fue fundada por los fenicios” (The city was founded by the Phoenicians).