History of Spanish Literature: From Berceo to Manrique
Gonzalo de Berceo
Gonzalo de Berceo, the first known Spanish poet, was born in the late 12th century in Berceo. He spent his childhood in San Millán de Suso and lived until the second half of the 13th century. His works, primarily religious, didactic, and moralistic, are written in a simple, clear language filled with popular expressions. His most important work, Miracles of Our Lady, comprises 25 short stories inspired by European Marian legends. Berceo’s verses occasionally reveal lyricism, realism, and a rural atmosphere.
Juan Ruiz (Archpriest of Hita)
The Archpriest of Hita, a jovial poet of the 14th century, wrote The Book of Good Love, which consists of seven sections:
- A prose prologue explaining the work’s moralizing intent.
- A lighthearted story about the protagonist’s love affairs.
- Various stories or examples, such as the wolf, the goat, and the crane.
- A series of satires, like the power of money.
- Moral reflections on various topics, such as confession.
- Lyrical-religious poems, including those devoted to the Virgin.
- Profane lyric poems, like the songs of the mountains.
His style is characterized by metrical irregularities, the depiction of harsh village life, a carefree and comical tone, lively and popular speech, expressive variety (sayings, nicknames), and realism.
Don Juan Manuel (The Count Lucanor)
Don Juan Manuel’s most important work, Count Lucanor, consists of 51 stories, 100 proverbs, 80 additional proverbs, and moral or doctrinal discussions. The story structure is as follows:
- The narrator introduces the Count and his advisor, Patronio. The Count presents a problem and seeks advice.
- Patronio tells a story to the Count.
- After the story, Patronio offers advice based on its moral. The Count accepts the advice.
Don Juan Manuel summarizes his teachings in a two-line stanza. The tales are sourced from Arabic, oriental, and European Christian traditions. He strives for clear language, explaining any Latin terms. The topics are varied: habits, virtues, vices, goods, and money. He aims to provide moral instruction through entertainment.
Traditional Castilian Lyrics and Ballads
Lyrics: These traditional compositions are simple yet beautiful and lyrical. Their meter is irregular, tending towards six and eight syllables. The theme is love, often expressed in the form of a carol. The structure typically includes a chorus, a verse, connecting lines, and a return line.
Ballads: Emerging in the late 14th century, ballads are eight-syllable verses with assonant rhyme in pairs. They are divided into historical (e.g., El Cid), frontier (Moorish conflicts), Carolingian (e.g., Roland), and romantic/lyrical themes. Ballads blend narration and dialogue, characterized by simplicity, spontaneity, repetition, and parallelism.
Jorge Manrique
Jorge Manrique, the most important poet of the late 15th century, wrote love poetry and the famous Verses on the Death of His Father. This elegy, written with sorrow, resignation, and emotion, explores themes of life’s transience, life as a journey, the “Ubi sunt?” motif, the universality of death, fame, and honor. The poem is divided into three parts, moving from general reflections to the specific death of his father. Composed of 40 stanzas in copla de pie quebrado meter, Manrique uses vivid imagery and elegant language.
The Sentimental Novel
The sentimental novel, popular in Spain from the mid-15th to mid-16th centuries, is an idealist subgenre focused on sentimental passions within courtly settings. Key characteristics include:
- Worshipful love that often becomes tormenting passion.
- Idealized female characters.
- Ornate and rhetorical language.
- Tragic endings.
A prominent example is The Prison of Love.