Medieval & Renaissance Poetry: From Troubadours to Humanism
Troubadour Poetry and Latin Verse (9th-12th Centuries)
Religious and Secular Latin Poetry
During the Middle Ages, Latin held a prominent place alongside vernacular languages in religious and secular poetry. From the 9th to the 12th centuries, a significant portion of poetry was dedicated to the Church. However, a form of Latin lyrical realism also existed, thanks to the Goliardos (clerics who compiled poems and songbooks).
Lyrical and Popular Traditional Romance
Evidence suggests a vibrant tradition of vernacular songs and dances, despite Church decrees forbidding them. These orally transmitted works, known as popular or traditional lyrics, include examples like the jarchas and Cantigas.
The Troubadour Lyric and Courtly Love in Provence (12th-14th Centuries)
Between the 12th and 13th centuries, a new lyrical style emerged in Provence, spreading throughout Europe. Written in Occitan or Provençal, this courtly love poetry flourished until the early 15th century.
The Theme of Courtly Love
This refined love poetry centered on the concept of vassalage, where the lover (typically a knight) served a married lady. Poems praised the lady’s beauty, lamented separation, and explored the complexities of this unique form of love.
Troubadour Poetic Forms
The primary form was the canso (song), with variations like the alba (dawn song), the planh (lament), and the pastorela (pastoral). The sirventes, another form, allowed knights to defend or discredit one another.
Catalan Troubadours
Notable Catalan troubadours of the 13th century include Guillem de Berguedà, known for his sirventes, and Cerverí de Girona, celebrated for his cansos.
Dante and the Dolce Stil Novo (Late 12th – Early 13th Centuries)
In Italy, a new poetic style, the Dolce Stil Novo, emerged under Dante’s leadership. This movement marked a departure from the troubadour tradition of courtly love.
Authors of the Dolce Stil Novo
Like the troubadours, these poets focused on love, but they were no longer vassals to the lady; instead, they were captivated by her beauty.
14th and 15th Century Poetry: The Rise of Humanism
The 14th century witnessed the rise of humanism, a literary movement shifting focus from theocentricism to anthropocentrism. Man became the central focus, leading to a rejection of theocentric and classicizing ideologies in favor of new ideas centered on human agency.
Catalan Lyrical Poetry and the Troubadour Tradition (Late 14th – Early 15th Centuries)
This period, bridging the late 14th century and the early life of Ausiàs March (15th century), saw attempts to move beyond the troubadour style. While Catalan became the language of poetry, troubadour themes and forms persisted.
Catalan Poets of this Period
Notable poets include Andreu Febrer, Pere March, and Jaume March, all writing in Catalan or Catalan-influenced Provençal, adhering to the troubadour style.
Jordi de Sant Jordi and his Work (Late 14th – c. 1425)
Jordi de Sant Jordi, a Valencian nobleman, played a crucial role in the transition from troubadour poetry to the 15th-century style. He represents the culmination of the troubadour world, encompassing its lyrical, mental, moral, and social aspects. His works include notable decasyllabic love poems. Imprisoned by Francesco Sforza in 1423, he wrote poems reflecting his captivity.
The Poetry of Ausiàs March (1397-1459)
After a period of military service and unconventional living, Ausiàs March married Isabel Martorell in 1437 (around age forty). After her death in 1439, he married Joana Escorna in 1443, living with her in Valencia for eleven years. He was the sole heir of both wives, neither of whom bore him legitimate children, though he had four surviving illegitimate children.
Language and Style
March was the first poet to consistently write poetry in Catalan, free from Occitan influences. He claimed to depart from the troubadour style, presenting a new vision of love. However, he retained troubadour poetic forms, using symbols and songs to address his themes.
March’s Work
His known work comprises 128 poems (around 10,000 verses), preserved in 13 manuscripts. Love is the central theme, but not in the traditional troubadour sense. His poetry explores love based on Aristotelian-Thomistic ideas, where true joy lies in pure contemplation and knowledge of the beloved. He contrasts this with sensual love, exploring the contradictions arising from man’s dual nature. Early works, like “The Ladies Conceal Themselves” and “Lily Among Thorns,” feature themes of courtly love.