Jorge Manrique’s ‘Coplas’: Structure, Themes, and Medieval Context
Structure and Themes in Manrique’s ‘Coplas’
Verses I-XII: Abstract Reflections on Death
In this first section, the poem considers death in the abstract. It offers a general and philosophical reflection, noting the speed with which death arrives, always hidden and unexpected, and its equalizing power, as it reaches everyone.
Coplas XIV-XXIV: Death and Historical Figures
This series of stanzas discusses death with specific examples of historical personages of the time. The focus shifts to the death and disappearance of Manrique’s contemporaries.
Coplas XXV-XL: The Death of Don Rodrigo Manrique
This section focuses on the death of the protagonist, Don Rodrigo Manrique, Count of Paredes and Grand Master of the Military Order of Santiago. Manrique’s death is portrayed as polite and gentle, like a voice asking permission to die, rather than something gruesome and ruthless.
The Three Lives
Life on Earth
Jorge Manrique describes earthly life as fleeting and as a pathway to death.
Life of Fame
A life of glory is achieved through honor. It lasts longer than earthly life but is not eternal. This endurance is achieved through heroism and the development of human excellence, allowing fame to survive after death.
Supernatural Life
This life is eternal and is reached after death. According to the author, Don Rodrigo achieved it thanks to his heroic virtues: friendship, loyalty, courage, discretion, and bravery.
Main Ideas of Key Couplets
- Couplet 1: We must be vigilant because death can occur at any time.
- Couplet 2: The transience of life.
- Couplet 3: The equalizing power of death.
- Couplet 4: Invocation to God, rather than celebrities and poets.
- Couplet 5: Earthly life is just a road to death.
- Couplet 9: The author questions why we changed the old ways.
- Couplet 16: The ephemeral nature of earthly possessions.
- Couplet 35: Don Rodrigo is told not to worry about leaving earthly life, for his glory will bring fame after death.
- Couplet 36: Explanation of how to achieve eternal life.
- Couplet 40: Don Rodrigo dies, leaving the comfort of his life.
Metrical Structure
Each of the 40 stanzas is composed of 12 verses (octosyllabic and tetrasyllabic) combined as follows: each stanza consists of a couplet, constituted by a double series of eight syllables plus a four syllable line, rhyming abc, abc. The outline of each stanza is therefore: 8a, 8b, 4c, 8a, 8b, 4c.
Medieval Features of the Work
Theocentric Character
This is the main characteristic of all works written during the Middle Ages and is present in this work.
Realism
Throughout the poem, the author deals with realistic themes like life and death. It is not an idealistic work.
Didactic and Moralizing Purpose
This aspect stands out mainly in the first verses, which offer reflections and advice, containing moral teachings.
Ubi Sunt?
This is a topic of medieval literature. This rhetorical question, widespread throughout the poetry of the Middle Ages, meaning “where are they?” is used by the author in some verses to refer to memorable dead figures (such as Juan II and the heirs of Carrion) and the pleasures of life.
Death
This is one of the common issues in question during the Middle Ages and is present in most works of this period.
Fortuna
This is another common theme of the Middle Ages. Fortuna manages the assets of the world, and human destiny hovers around and crushes others. According to the morality of the time, the “goods of fortune are unstable and perishable, against the ‘moral goods’ that are safe and eternal.”
Brevity of Life
This is another common theme of the Middle Ages, present mainly in the first 13 verses, which talk about how fast life goes and how we should be mindful of our mortal status.