Catalan Literature: History, Movements, and Key Authors
Catalan Literature: A Historical Overview
Prose:
- Religious and Moral: Ramon Llull laid the foundation for Catalan prose maturity. Eiximenis Francis and St. Vincent Ferrer promoted Christian doctrine.
- Narrative History: Chroniclers like James I, Peter of Aragon, Bernard Desclot, and Ramon Muntaner wrote historiographic tales defending Catalan kings’ policies.
- Moral and Philosophical Prose: Bernat Metge debated classic works on topics like the immortality of the soul and love.
- Chivalric Novel: Curial e Guelph (anonymous) and Tirant lo Blanc (Eisner) moved beyond fantasy, offering a realist approach to narrative from historical and psychological perspectives.
Poetry: (Stages)
- S. XII-XIII: Catalan troubadours in Occitan (Wilhelm Berguedà, Alfonso I of Aragon, William of Cabestany, Cerverí).
- S. XIV-XV: Poets like Gilabert de Pròixita, Andreu Febrer, and Jordi de Sant Jordi created their own styles from classic models. Mark James and Peter wrote poetry from a moral viewpoint.
- S. XV: Ausias Marc broke from tradition, focusing on the spiritual suffering of love in his original poetry.
Literature (s. XVI and XVII)
During the modern age, Catalan literature declined due to social and political factors.
However, three European aesthetic movements were present:
- The Renaissance: (XVI century) Emphasized the ability to judge man and the universe freely. Writers included Critòfol Despuig, Peter Seraph, and John Smith.
- Baroque: (XVII century) Reflected spiritual crises, religious wars, and human contradictions. Poets and playwrights included Francesc Vicent Garcia and Francesc Fontanella.
- Illustration: (XVIII century) Renewed confidence in human reason and education. Prose writers included Baldiri Reixac and theater writers included Joan Ramis.
Popular literature based on oral tradition included poetry (Christmas carols, romances), prose fiction (legends, tales), religious drama, and profane theater.
Literature S. XIX. The Renaissance
A literary movement that sought to recover and incorporate educated literary currents of European literature such as Romanticism and Realism.
Precedents: (eighteenth century) Joanot Martorell’s Grammar and Apology of the Catalan language and Charles Aribau’s Ode to the Motherland marked the beginning of the renaissance.
Joaquim Rubio y Ors had a dual challenge: to create a serious literature separate from classic Medieval Castilian and to restore the Floral Games.
In 1859, it was consolidated in different genres by A. Guimerà, Narcís Oller, and Jacint Verdaguer.
Its peak was in the 70s and 80s, displaced by modernism in the 90s.
Contemporary Literature
From the last decade of the nineteenth century and throughout the twentieth century, literary genres have evolved within literary movements or individually.
Stages:
- Modernism: (1891-1911) Aimed to Europeanize and normalize literature after the renaissance. (Joan Maragall and Caterina Albert (Victor Català))
- Noucentisme: (1906-1923) Prioritized essays and poetry, reflecting economic development and political autonomy sought by the bourgeoisie. (Eugeni d’Ors and Josep Carner)
- Moderns: (1916-1938) Broke with literary tradition, focusing on poetry. (Joan Salvat-Papasseit and J.V. Foix)
Parallel to the 20s and 30s, there was a renewal of literary symbolist poetry and a return to the novel. (Carles Riba, Josep Maria de Sagarra, and Josep Pla)
Literature of War, Exile, and Postwar
The Franco regime’s linguistic genocide and military defeat made it difficult for Catalan literature to survive between 1939 and 1959. (Joan Oliver, Mercè Rodoreda, and Salvador Espriu)
In the 60s and 70s, there was a consolidation and emergence of other authors. Literature resisted attempts to make it disappear and restored normalcy. (Pere Calders, Manuel de Pedrolo, Miquel Martí i Pol, and Joan Brossa)