Renaissance in Spain: Culture, Humanism, and Lyric Poetry
The Renaissance in Spain: A Cultural and Literary Shift
The Renaissance flourished in Italy between the 14th and 16th centuries, eventually spreading to other European countries. In Spain, the Renaissance fully took hold during the reigns of Charles I and Philip II.
Political, Social, and Economic Climate
The 16th century in Spain was marked by political stability, peace, and an abundance of gold and silver from the Americas. Spain emerged as a world power, although continuous conflicts and wars originated abroad.
The Counter-Reformation
The 16th century witnessed a movement of spiritual renewal in Europe, including the Reformation, which gave rise to Protestantism. In 1517, Martin Luther presented his 95 theses, urging the churches to return to the teachings of the Bible. Thanks to the printing press, his ideas spread throughout Europe, causing the Protestant Reformation.
This era emphasized individual religious experience, the search for God through love, and Gospel values. New devotional cults arose among minority and urban sectors. Enlightenment trends and the Protestant Christian religion shared an emphasis on interiority and the free interpretation of the Bible. Both were persecuted and repressed by the Inquisition.
Culture in the Renaissance
The Renaissance brought a change in the conception of human beings and their relationships with God and nature. Man stood at the center of the world. The basis of the transformation of Renaissance culture was the valuing of education and the recovery of classical literature undertaken by the humanists.
Humanism
Humanism was a stream of thought based on humanitatis studies (humanities), the learning of Classical Latin, which allowed access to the works of antiquity. The reading of ancient authors was reflected in poetic creation, imitation of different texts, and personal recreation. Humanistic works exalt nature, and pleasure predominates in an optimistic and confident vision of the world.
Humanism and the Renaissance in Spain
At the beginning of the 16th century, the work of Cardinal Cisneros stands out. He promoted the edition of the Bible and founded the University of Alcalá de Henares. He also championed the study of language. Spanish was imposed in literature and science, and Latin works were translated.
The Renaissance Lyric
Francesco Petrarca influenced 15th-century Spanish poets. Petrarch brought the heritage of cultured Provençal lyric and classical literature together with the Italian poets of his generation.
Formal Aspects
Italian poetry brought two rhythmic innovations: the hendecasyllable and enjambment. Renaissance lyric incorporated verse and usual types of compositions from Italian lyric poetry, such as:
- Tercets
- Lira
- Ottava rima
- Sonnet
- Sapphic stanza
In style, the first half of the 16th century saw a culture of poetry that responded to the ideal of simplicity and naturalness of expression.
Superstition and Poetics
The new poetry developed issues and ideals of Neo-Platonism, classical literature, and Italian poetry, influenced by Petrarch. Imitation of the classics included Virgil and Sannazaro. The main theme of Renaissance lyric is love, the poetic introspection of expressing suffering due to the absence or death of the beloved or the lack of correspondence.
Reasons abound, such as the pain caused by love, its power, and the struggle between reason and desire. The portrayal of women corresponds to the Renaissance canon of beauty and is associated with images of nature. Another frequent theme is the topical nature of the pleasant place (locus amoenus). The carpe diem theme is associated with love, encouraging the enjoyment of the present through images.
Classical mythology is used to express relationships, with references to gods and mythological beings. Other minor themes are friendship and courtly praise. In the second half of the 16th century, religious and moral poetry dominated.