Literary Genres and Subgenres: Middle Ages to Renaissance
Epic Poetry
The epic, from the Greek word epos, which signifies narrative, shows an objective attitude and uses the narrative form to tell real and imagined events.
Epic Subgenres
- Epic: A long poem that recounts the exploits of a hero and represents the character of the nation.
- Epic Poem: A medieval epic poem, often anonymous, recited by minstrels for an exemplary purpose, recounting the exploits of a hero.
- Romance Epic: Romance could be born of the epics, and its origin had an epic recounting episodes of heroism.
- Legend: A fictional story that emerges from a real or historical fact, may be written in verse or prose.
- Fable: A short story with an allegorical character that usually ends with a lesson or moral.
- Fable: Short stories in verse or prose, the prototype characters are often animals and usually end with a moral.
- Novel: A long story in which a narrator tells a story that involves characters in a space and time.
- Story: Has the same structure as the novel, but it differs mostly in condensation.
Drama
Drama is characterized by being composed of works that are shown to an audience, as an expression used by the dialogue, which usually involves several characters. It also uses verbal and nonverbal codes, indicated in the stage directions. Drama not only has a functional role but also acquires an aesthetic value.
Dramatic Subgenres
- Tragedy: The characters are upper class and use language consistent with their social class. They tend to be swayed by passions or by cruel fate, leading to a fatal issue. Tragedy evokes feelings of fear or pity in the audience.
- Comedy: Characters are of an inferior social class, and its end is happy. Comedy attempts to mimic daily reality, with which the viewer feels identified.
- Drama: An intermediate genre between tragedy and comedy, as the misfortune does not reach the level of tragedy, comic elements are incorporated as in comedy.
- Allegorical: A one-act play in verse with allegorical characters in which it is a celebration of the Eucharist.
- Skit: A short piece of comic character, reflecting the customs and popular speech. A form close to farce.
- Interlude: A very short piece, with burlesque humor, that develops a simple argument.
- Entremés: A pamphlet of popular character was represented in the intervals of longer works.
- Farce: Satirical with a comic tone, in which the characters are exaggerated caricatures.
Didactic Essay
The didactic essay integrates writings with which it tries to present some ideas and justify the opinion of the issuer. Essays are the texts that best serve this function. The essay is a prose text that states a personal and subjective opinion.
Didactic Nonfiction Subgenres
- Newspaper Article: A genre of the press, very popular today. It is a short text.
- Letter: The form of letters has been used to make comments, ideas, or criticism to disclose defects.
- Speech and Sermon: Genres that expose ideas to convince the audience. Discourse tends to have a political or social issue; the sermon, religious or moral.
Literary Topics
- Beatus Ille (Blessed One): Praise of the retired life in the countryside.
- Carpe Diem (Seize the Moment): Encourages the enjoyment of life and youth.
- Locus Amoenus (Pleasant Place): A description of an idealized nature.
- Ubi Sunt? (Where Are They?): Asks about things and people that disappear or die.
Historical Period: The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is considered the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the year 1492, the date of the discovery of America and the conquest of Granada. In 711, the Arabs defeated Don Rodrigo, the last Gothic king, at the Battle of Guadalete. This marked the beginning of the Muslim invasion. From the south began the reconquest of the territories dominated by Arabs. It is a period of coexistence between Jews, Christians, and Arabs. Medieval literature ranges from the first literary works in Castilian to those that occur during the beginning of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Three stages have been distinguished: the first is characterized by a tendency to anonymity, the latter figures are the first, and the third is produced the first attempt to adapt the Italian forms of poetry.