Golden Age of Spanish Literature: Poetry and Prose
Golden Age of Spanish Literature
Renaissance Authors
Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536)
The quintessential Renaissance courtier, Garcilaso de la Vega, excelled as a soldier, writer, and lover. Born in Toledo and dying in Nice from battle wounds, his legacy includes a rich collection of Renaissance letters, elegies, pastorals, sonnets, and songs. His Eclogues, where shepherds explore themes of love, showcase his poetic prowess. A master of Renaissance themes, he introduced stanzas like the Italian lira to Spain, notably used in his song To the Flower of Knidos. His style is marked by naturalness and simplicity.
Fray Luis de León (1527-1591)
Fray Luis de León epitomizes the ascetic literature of the late 16th century, expressing a yearning for spiritual detachment from earthly concerns. His work explores themes of solitude, retreat into nature (Beatus Ille), the pursuit of spiritual peace, and harmony with the universe. His style is simple, favoring the lira verse form. Notable works include Ode to the Retired Life, Ode to Francisco Salinas, and Calm Night and Ascension, which portrays man’s despair without God.
San Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591)
San Juan de la Cruz, a mystic poet, delves into the experience of divine union through the mystical stages: purgative, illuminative, and unitive.
Prose
Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)
Lazarillo de Tormes, a pioneering picaresque novel, stands out for its originality. It reflects a literature grounded in reality, contrasting with the idealism and religious focus of the time. Published anonymously, it follows Lázaro’s life from birth to his service in Toledo. He serves various masters who mistreat and starve him: a blind man, a clergyman, a nobleman, a friar, a pardoner, a chaplain, and a constable.
Characteristics of the Picaresque Novel:
- Autobiographical narrative
- Chronological order
- Rogue protagonist: low social class, almost criminal, wandering, driven by hunger, seeking a better life, an anti-hero.
The narrative connects episodes through Lázaro’s life, employing irony and dialogue to advance the plot and express social criticism. The language reflects the speech of an illiterate boy of the era.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Don Quixote de la Mancha, a cornerstone of Spanish literature, was written to satirize chivalric romances, possibly inspired by the anonymous Entremés of Romances. The novel portrays a clash between idealism and materialism, madness and reality, embodied by Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Published in two parts (1605 and 1615), it centers around three journeys. The first establishes Don Quixote’s knighthood; the second follows his adventures; and the third involves his time at a duke’s palace, culminating in his defeat and return home.
Cervantes masterfully uses dialogue, varied lexical levels, parody, irony, and a rich narrative voice.
Mysticism
Mysticism, from the Greek for “hidden” or “secret,” refers to experiencing the divine presence. While a gift for some, the soul can prepare through ascetic spiritual exercises. The ascetic-mystic process involves three stages: purgative (purification from passions), illuminative (receiving divine graces), and unitive (union with God).
17th-Century Baroque Poetry
Luis de Góngora (1561-1627)
Born in Córdoba and educated in Salamanca, Góngora, along with Quevedo, represents Baroque poetry. He developed a unique style prioritizing expression over content, using intricate ornamentation and emphasizing sensory elements. His language features metaphors, elevated vocabulary, hyperbaton, parallels, and mythological references. His poetry blends popular realism with a culto style characterized by hermetic language and artifice.
Francisco de Quevedo (1580-1645)
Quevedo, a master of conceptismo, focuses on intellectual complexity. His style features metaphors, puns, paradoxes, contrasts, ambiguities, and double meanings. Engaged in his time’s affairs, he expressed himself powerfully across various literary forms. His poetry is categorized into moral, political, love, and satirical/burlesque themes.