Medieval Spanish Literature: Forms, Authors, and Works
Key Features of Medieval Literature
Literature creates a fictional and believable world. It makes aesthetic use of language intentionally. Its function is to amuse, entertain, and communicate ideas. Communication is delayed (no dialog). The context is very important to understand the work. Its formal channels are verse and prose. Frequent use of stylistic devices (metaphor, hyperbaton, etc.) occurs. Genres include epic or narrative, lyric, and dramatic (plus didactic in the 18th century). Until the 13th century, prose was not written in Romance languages, while verse had an earlier onset.
Jarcha
Jarcha is typical of Al-Andalus and written in Mozarabic. It appears at the bottom of a larger composition: the muwassaha. It is a brief stanza of no more than 5 or 6 lines. The love theme is from a female perspective, expressing the absence of the beloved. Informants are the mother or sisters.
Cantigas de Amigo
Cantigas de Amigo are typical of Galicia. They are chained poem stanzas composed using a parallelistic structure. Their musicality is slow. A verse of a stanza is repeated in the next with a minimum change. It belongs to the traditional lyric. The theme is love, and they express the complaints of a girl in love. Her confidants are nature, the mother, or sisters.
Carol
Carol is typical of Castilla. It is a short poem of minor art. It has two parts: a chorus, which is an announcement on the subject, and a gloss, which consists of one or more stanzas in which the chorus develops the theme in a simple, emotional, and intense style. There is an abundance of exclamations, repetitions, and diminutives. The main theme is love, male or female. They seek the joy of love or express sorrow for the absence, dismissal, or unrequited love.
Features of Medieval Poetry
Medieval poetry is transmitted orally, so it is in verse. It is anonymous. The minstrel is the main transmitter. It has a simple and condensed style. Subjectivity and emotion are expressed through exclamations, questions, and diminutives.
Cantar del Mio Cid
Cantar del Mio Cid is divided into three parts:
- Song of Exile (vv. 1 – 1086): El Cid is banished by King Alfonso VI. He must retrieve his honor and does so by winning battles and sending gifts to the king.
- Song of the Wedding (vv. 1087 – 2077): El Cid marries his daughters to the Infantes of Carrión.
- Song of the Shame of Corpes (vv. 2078 – 3735): The Infantes strip, beat, and abandon the Cid’s daughters. The Cid summons the courts of Toledo and wins the case. The Infantes of Aragon and Navarre ask to marry his daughters.
This chanson de geste presents likelihood and highlights epic epithets.
Mester de Juglaría
Mester de Juglaría was performed by minstrels who traveled the towns reciting or singing poems. They pleased, thrilled, and amused the public (recreating for nobles and kings). The epics are long narratives in verse that recount the exploits of a hero. Their purpose is informative. Oral works are anonymous. It used to be epic poetry or lyrics of a popular character. Epic is narrative poetry, while lyrical is sentimental poetry.
Mester de Clerecía
Mester de Clerecía authors were of worship (priests). Their objective was moral teaching. They combined themes of classical and popular tradition. Examples include Miracles of Our Lady (Gonzalo de Berceo) and Libro de Buen Amor (Hita, 14th century).
Gonzalo de Berceo
Gonzalo de Berceo was the first known Castilian author, born in La Rioja. Berceo wrote religious works, such as Miracles of Our Lady. It is a short story collection featuring various religious characters who are devotees of the Virgin Mary. He used simple language.
Count Lucanor
Count Lucanor has the following structure:
- It starts with an initial dialogue between Count Lucanor and Patronio, his advisor.
- Then comes the narrative of the story or the example itself, which Patronio provides.
- Then the Count applies the story to the real case raised and it is accepted by the council.
- Finally, it concludes with the intervention of Don Juan Manuel, who decided to include the example in the book with a moral.