Catalan Literature and History: Renaissance to 18th Century
Catalan Literature: Aftermath of Decline
- Spanish version of the aristocracy of the old territories of the Crown of Aragon.
- Loss of power of the Catalan bourgeoisie.
- Frequent utilization of castles in the literature.
- Input of Spanish in serious literature in the 17th century.
- Loss of unity among different Catalan-speaking territories.
Renaissance
The revaluation brought the classical Greek and Latin culture. It is an intermediate stage between the Roman period and Renaixença.
16th Century (previously in Italy)
Baroque
A movement in opposition to the Renaissance.
17th Century (located in Spain, Spanish author)
England -> William Shakespeare
Enlightenment
French movement that culminated in the revolution of 1789.
18th Century (see France)
Serafí Pitarra
16th Century, his nickname “The Shepherd”. He is a poet who wrote a sonnet in Spanish. Also a painter, he painted altarpieces in a parish church of WrestleMania (1548).
Francesc Vicent Garcia
Known as the Rector of Vallfogona. Born in Tortosa, 1579. In 1605, he was ordained a priest. Years after, he was called to Vallfogona de Riucorb. In 1622, he received a Doctorate in Theology. He died in Vallfogona in 1625.
Several authors imitate his style. His style is very Castilianized. In his work, he follows the Castilian model of the time:
- In formal aspect.
- In theme (satirical, burlesque, erotic, and religious).
Castilianized language, artificial, elegant, and full of irony and topics.
Two styles:
- Satirical and burlesque (Mossèn Gravat de la Pigota).
- Lyric (sonnets) directed to a lady.
He wrote:
- Poetry
- Theater (one piece) “Santa Bàrbara Comedy”
- Prose (one work) “The Sermon”
The academy, in 1703, brought to light “The Harmony of Parnassus.” This became a literary, grammatical, and orthographic canon.
Francesc Fontanella
Relates to Culteranismo. He uses roots from Latin, violent hyperbaton, and mythological allusions. Pro-French, Castilianized literary and politically. He is the author of a collection of sonnets and the play “The Disappointment”.
Rafael d’Amat i de Cortada, Baron of Maldà
He writes in Catalan because he and his family wanted to create a literary family. Author of a work in prose with 60 volumes, “Calaix de Sastre“.
Joan Ramis i Ramis
Writer from Menorca. Son of Bartomeu Ramis, a lawyer from a well-off family. He began his studies in Menorca, where he studied Latin rhetoric and poetics. He was formed in a literary Baroque environment. With the tragedy “Lucrecia“, the author became more important in English Neoclassicism. He wrote the tragicomedy “Arminda” in Barcelona, and “Rosaura o el més constant amor“. He also wrote “Tirs i minyons“, and the composition “Al Comte de Cifuentes“.
Joan Sala i Ferrer, “Serrallonga”
Participated in banditry. These bandits always came from the popular classes. Perot Rocaguinarda and Joan Sala are the two most mythologized bandits in literature. In the mid-17th century, bandits began to be prosecuted. Some were condemned to death (such as Serrallonga). He was born in Viladrau on April 23, 1594, and died on January 8, 1634. He was the son of Joan Sala and Joana Ferrer. At four years old, he became motherless. Joan Sala and Margarida were married and had two children, Elisabet and Antoni. In 1627, pursued by soldiers of Philip IV, he marched for a year in Roussillon. He was captured in Santa Coloma de Farners. Serrallonga was executed on January 8, 1634, in Barcelona. His poem is “Torna, torna, Serrallonga“.
Popular Literature
It is characterized by anonymity. In theater, there is the tradition of the medieval farce (comedy sketches). In poetry, carols, corrandes, goigs (religious poetry), and romances. In prose, tales and legends.
The Reapers’ War
Charles II died childless on November 1, 1700. His heir was Archduke Charles. 17th-century War of the Reapers. The Count-Duke of Olivares (King) was the prime minister of Philip IV (he dedicated himself to raising money). Philip IV was drowned after several battles in Catalonia and ended up losing. The “Corpus of Blood” originated on June 7, 1640. It marked the beginning of the conflict.
In the 18th century, the War of the Spanish Succession with Philip V. September 11, 1714, celebrates the unity of the people against the power that represses them. The symbol is the resistance of the Catalan people. Books in Catalan were banned. The Mossos d’Esquadra were something of Philip V; he created a police force to quell riots.