Catalan Literature Through the Centuries
Medieval Chronicles (13th-14th Centuries)
Four narrative chronicles mark this era:
- Chronicle of James I
- Desclot by Bernat
- Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner
- Chronicle of Peter of Aragon
The Chronicle of James I (or Llibre dels fets) is the oldest, written autobiographically by the king himself in two stages. It details his life and exploits, notably the conquests of Majorca and Valencia. Beyond military events, it offers insights into daily life, achieving authenticity through its use of popular language and the inclusion of foreign characters’ speech.
The Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner, considered the most captivating of the four, spans from the reign of James I to the coronation of Alfonso of Aragon. Muntaner, as the protagonist and narrator, emphasizes the military campaigns of the Catalan kings.
Medieval Chivalric Novels (15th Century)
- Curial e Güelfa
- Tirant lo Blanc (a multifaceted chivalric novel: historical, social, psychological, and erotic)
Curriculum Components:
- Personal Information
- Training
- Work Experience
- Additional Data
- Date and Signature
16th Century: The Renaissance
Sacramental plays, allegorical one-act performances, flourished in the theater. In prose, Christopher Despuig’s Colloquia on the city of Tortosa stands out for its diverse topics, representing an early attempt at Catalan prose writing. Medieval poetic models coexisted with new Renaissance and pre-Baroque trends. Joan Timoneda published a collection of poems in Catalan.
18th Century: The Baroque
Catalan language underwent several processes:
- Contrast between transcendental and powerful concepts
- Deformation on two levels: realistic (caricature) and idealistic (absolute beauty)
- Exaggeration and hyperbole
- Dynamism and vitality through syntactic disturbances
Francesc Vicent Garcia, the Rector of Vallfogona, crafted elegant poetry following the Castilian models of Góngora and Quevedo. His popular poems were often festive and scatological, marked by vulgarity in tone and theme (L’Harmonia del Parnàs).
Francesc Fontanella primarily focused on love poetry.
18th Century: Neoclassicism and Enlightenment
Neoclassical principles spread, particularly in French-ruled Northern Catalonia and British-held Minorca. Poetry and drama were the most cultivated genres.
Neoclassical poetry favored didactic fables and satire, emulating La Fontaine. In Minorca, Joan Ramis i Ramis is notable for his idyllic love poetry and the tragedy Lucrezia (defending ethical and democratic values).
In Catalonia, Rafael d’Amat i de Cortada, Baron de Maldà, wrote Calaix de sastre, a sixty-volume manuscript collection of observations spanning 1769 to 1816, written in heavily Castilianized Catalan.
Romanticism (emerged late 18th century, flourished after 1823)
This new art form prioritized imagination over reason and established norms.
Bonaventura Carles Aribau’s Ode to the Homeland, published in El Vapor, marked the beginning of Catalan Romantic poetry. Joaquim Rubió i Ors, Manuel Milà i Fontanals, and Víctor Balaguer followed, laying the groundwork for the restoration of the Floral Games, particularly through two publications: Los trobadors and Los nuevos trobadors modernos.
The Floral Games (founded 1859)
These games became a platform for Catalan’s revival as a literary language and launched the careers of numerous writers.
Under the motto “Patria, Fides, Amor” (Homeland, Faith, Love), three ordinary flower prizes were awarded:
- Englantina d’or (Golden Honeysuckle): Best patriotic poem
- Viola d’argent i or (Silver and Gold Violet): Best poem celebrating faith
- Flor natural (Natural Flower): Best love poem
Winning all three in a single year earned the title of Mestre en Gai Saber (Master of the Gay Science). Later, prizes for prose and essays were added.
The Floral Games achieved key cultural goals:
- Established a regular literary audience
- Developed early Catalan publishing infrastructure
- Elevated the language’s social prestige
- Promoted specific poetic and literary genres
Jacint Verdaguer authored L’Atlàntida, a poem narrating the sinking of Atlantis, foreshadowing Columbus’s discovery of America. It blends historical and mythological elements. Canigó tells the story of a young knight who falls in love with Flordeneu, the fairy queen of Canigó. Other works include: Montserrat, Virolai, L’emigrant, Dietari d’un pelegrí a Terra Santa, and Faules i rondalles.