Catalan Literature: Historical Periods and Key Authors
Illustration
The Illustration was a stream of thought that extolled reason and urged the spirit of ideas and progress. It is characterized by rationalism (based on reason) and empiricism (based on experience). It was a time of optimism that opposed the Baroque, and during this period, the encyclopedia was created. Academies were created, which in some institutions were beginning. In The Hague, there were very few people, and people loved to write and put together works. They held classes, defended teaching, and recited poems in Catalan. The Baron of Maldà is the most important literary figure of the 18th century. His work, Calaix de Sastre, is a very large opening into the present and a collection of articles he wrote every day. His goal was to entertain and inform people.
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism emerged in the second half of the 18th century in France and was characterized by classical theater. It was divided into five acts and three classic units. The most important author was Joan Ramis, who wrote neoclassical plays in Menorca. The most important of Joan Ramis’ works is Lucrècia.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a historical period that began in the late 15th century and lasted until the second half of the 16th century. It was born in Italy and is characterized by the ideals of classical antiquity, awareness of nationalist political changes, and economic problems. The objectives of the era were to retrieve the Catalan language, the appearance of prominent writers, the creation of new institutions, and to raise the population’s awareness of the identification between language and nation. There is a first stage between 1833 and 1870 that arose with Romanticism and the early Floral Games. The main theme was love, with prizes for the best poems about faith, country, and love. If you won in all three categories, you were proclaimed a Master of Gay Saber. The second stage, from 1870, featured the principal authors Verdaguer, Guimerà, and Oller.
Romanticism
Romanticism was the period from 1833 to the late 19th century. It is characterized by educated literary production. It appeared in Germany and England. Its characteristics are the consideration of the artist as a higher being. Through symbols, the poet wants to express what they want, and they are not happy with the time they are experiencing.
Poetry: Jacint Verdaguer
Jacint Verdaguer was a great writer of poetry (mainly), and the importance of his works represents the recovery of Catalan poetry after three centuries of decadence. His works are basically poetic, except for some prose works such as Dietari d’un Pelegrí a Terra Santa and Excursions i Viatges. His great works are Canigó and L’Atlàntida.
L’Atlàntida
The story begins when the handsome son of Earl Tallaferro, after being knighted, joins the Christian army on a mission to stop attacking Muslims.
Canigó
The boy looks to Canigó and starts talking about the fairies that live there, and he decides to go there. He meets Griselda, the queen of the fairies. She seduces him, and they rule the Pyrenees together. She appeals to him, and he forgets about the battle and accompanies her on a flight through the Pyrenees. Wilfred is surprised when the fairy, while making love to him, throws him down the mountain. When Wilfred is on the verge of death, he requests that where a pagan has died, a cross be planted.
In lyric poetry, we can highlight “L’Emigrant” and “Montserrat”. As far as religious poetry, “Flors del Calvari” stands out.
Costumbrism
Costumbrism signified the discovery of reality as a fictional form. Its features are the description of characters, the description of customs, and the languages used. Customary narratives are known as costumari articles. They are short pieces in which there is practically no plot or action.
Realism
Realism appeared in Europe in the middle of the 19th century. The main authors are Balzac and Stendhal.
Naturalism
Naturalism was a literary process that developed around 1870. Émile Zola is the principal author of this movement.
Narcís Oller
Narcís Oller‘s work is not very extensive. It consists of six novels, including La Papallona, one of the most important, where there are Romantic elements, L’Escanyapobres, and La Febre d’Or.
Decline
Decline refers to the period of Catalan literature up to the 19th century. It is characterized by the decline in the number of cultured works.
Bilingualism
Bilingualism is the use of two languages by the same individual. Contact between two languages causes linguistic interference.
Diglossia
Diglossia is a situation in which language A is used for formal functions and language B for informal situations. Cristòfor Despuig wrote a defense of the Catalan language in the book Los Col·loquis de la Insigne Ciutat de Tortosa. Baldiri Reixac also defended Catalan in Instruccions per a l’Ensenyança de Minyons, and Josep Pau Ballot wrote Gramàtica i Apologia de la Llengua Catalana.
Popular Literature from the 15th to the 18th Century
This is a literature created and lived by the people, responding to their needs and tastes. Characteristics: anonymous, orally unstable (changes over time), traditional, and chronologically inaccurate.
Songs
- The Joys: Religious compositions with a melody that are accompanied by praise to Jesus Christ. They consist of seven syllables distributed in four verses and an initial chorus of retornello (both initial and final verses repeat the chorus). An example is Els Goigs de Sant Pere Màrtir.
- Christmas Carols: Popular Christmas compositions. There are two types: those that speak of Jesus’ birth and those about food and festivities. An example is A Betlem me’n Vull Anar.
- Highwaymen and Robbers’ Songs: Narrative poems about the development of banditry. A former camp is Serrallonga.
- Tambourine Songs: Sung in celebrations, with the goal of making money by advertising a big party.
- Corrandes: Very short, on the subject of love, longing, etc.
The Romance
Romances were sung to recount exploits. They originated in the village and kept fragments. They could be classified as being of French origin, Spanish origin, or native romances. The best known is El Comte Arnau.
Popular Fiction: The Tales
Tales are traditional popular storytelling for children. There are many types, but the most abundant are wonderful, with fantasy characters and elements involved. An example is L’Auca del Noi.
Legends
Legends are oral or written narratives that tell a true historical fact. Over the years, they have incorporated imaginary elements. An example is Joan de l’Ós.
Popular Theater
Religious Drama: A religious drama originated in the Song of the Sibyl, for example, and later the mysteries arose, such as the Mystery of Elche. Profane Theater: It has its origin in celebrations and festivals organized in courtly areas. There were also Entremesos: simple pieces on everyday topics with comedic and burlesque elements. Momos and Masquerades were performed during Carnival and other festivals.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a historical period that began in the late 15th century and lasted until the late 16th century. It arose in Italy and is characterized by a return to the values and ideals of classical antiquity.
Erasmism
Erasmism was a humanistic movement derived from the doctrines of Erasmus of Rotterdam and led to the Protestant Reformation.
Baroque
The Baroque is a movement that developed in Europe from the 16th to the 17th century. It is characterized by opposition to the Renaissance, a pessimistic time of disillusionment, and a search for artistic escape.
Cultism
Cultism sought beauty through the expression of absolute Renaissance expression.
Conceptism
Conceptism was a burlesque lyric that had Francesc Vicenç Garcia as its representative.
Francesc Vicenç Garcia
Francesc Vicenç Garcia‘s pseudonym was Rector de Vallfogona. He presented two literary attitudes: a sleek one and another ironic and burlesque one.