Medieval Literature: Jarchas, Minstrelsy, and Clergy
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages marked the evolution of Romance languages from Latin, which, as a language of prestige, was used in monasteries. During this period, narrative in verse (epic), lyric, and drama began to be cultivated. These works were often transmitted through oral tradition. Prominent themes included love, war, and religion. The medieval world revolved around the figure of God (theocentrism).
The Jarchas
Jarchas are lyrical compositions written in eleventh-century Mozarabic. These are popular poems in which a girl talks about her experiences of love with her mother or sisters. Their characteristics include:
- The abundance of exclamations, questions, and repetitions.
- The use of a simple lexicon with many nicknames.
- The construction of verses with less art.
Mester de Juglaría (Minstrelsy)
The minstrels, who gave oral disclosures of literary creations, were grouped under the name Mester de Juglaría. These minstrels composed extensive poems called epics. They feature:
- Dynamism.
- Verses of irregular rhyming assonance.
- Expressions that demand public attention.
- The predominance of action.
- The removal of formulas that introduce direct dialogue.
- Brief descriptions.
- The appearance of epic nicknames.
Cantar de Mio Cid
Cantar de Mio Cid is the most extensive and best-preserved epic poem in Castilian. It is an anonymous work belonging to the Mester de Juglaría and chronicles the exploits of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar. It is structured in three parts: “Song of Exile,” “Song of the Marriage,” and “Song of the Affront at Corpes”.
Middle Ages II
In the twelfth century, narrative presents two forms: verse and prose. Verse is used by clerics, who form the Mester de Clerecía, which deals with religious themes. Prose narrative covers diverse subjects, leading to the emergence of various subgenres.
The Mester de Clerecía (Clergy)
These are stories in verse, explaining the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or the saints. They had a very carefully crafted style. The salient features are a very rich vocabulary and the use of the cuaderna vía (four verses estrufas rhyme monorrimos of consonantey of 14 syllables).
Gonzalo de Berceo
Gonzalo de Berceo is the first author’s name known in Castilian literature. His best-known work is “Miracles of Our Lady”. It is written in verse (cuaderna vía). It is characterized by its short descriptions interspersed with dialogues, abundant diminutives, notes of humor and colloquialisms, the characterization with very pronounced strengths and weaknesses, and because the main character, Mary, has qualities of the heroes themselves gentlemen and is presented as a woman of character.
Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita
He is the author of the Book of Good Love. Written mostly in cuaderna vía. It is written as an autobiography, consisting of a collection of poems, narrative or lyric, which aims to teach people to choose the “right track” as the Christian religion.
Juan Manuel
Juan Manuel contributed to the development of Castilian prose, striving to create a personal style that was clear and precise. His most famous work was El Conde Lucanor. That is telling, which hide a moral. This always was written at the end of the story in couplet.