Spanish Literature: 15th and 16th Century Evolution

Posted on Jan 22, 2025 in Latin

Origins Narrative

First written in the reign of Fernando II, stories such as Kalila and Sendebar Edimna.

Alfonso X

Encouraged the use of Castilian as a union between cultures.

Topics: Law, science, games, entertainment, and heritage.

Style: Pay attention to syntax (create word derivatives) and lexicon (need conjunctions).

15th Century

The Autumn of the Middle Ages, or Pre-Renaissance, begins a shift in thinking.

Historical Account

Nobility feeds rebellions.
Marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon.
Complete reconquest crisis.

Thought and Culture

Rediscovering classical antiquity: Humanism.
Humanist ideas in the peninsula: After the victory in 1420, educated classes such as Juan de Mena sought legitimation in the Visigothic monarchy and showed a predilection for classical authors.
Studia hispanica and studia humanitatis.

15th Century Lyric Poetry

Boosted by Alfonso V of Aragon and Castile, who hosted numerous humanists.

Courtly Poetry: Composed to be read or recited, verses, and a variety of topics (love themes, moral issues, witty thoughts, glosses, questions, and discussions).
Language: Highly artificial.
Metric: Verso de arte mayor and Castilian.
Songbooks: Baena, Estúñiga.
Characters: Marquis of Santillana, Juan de Mena, Jorge Manrique.

Poetry Criticism and Satire

Used satire and parody of the Castilian version of Death and Danza couplets.

Poetry Type

Traditional, medieval heritage, full of beauty, and el alba.

16th Century: Golden Age

Covers the periods of the Catholic Monarchs and Charles.

Historical Events

The conquest.
Expulsion of the Jews.
Discovery of America (economic impact: ports, food; political impact: territory; scientific and social impact).

Society and Thinking

Return to ancient Greco-Roman culture.
Humanism.
Development and flowering of translations.

Religion

Erasmus of Rotterdam: Evangelical return to purity.
Martin Luther: Protestant texts (explaining the Counter-Reformation and the Inquisition).

Language

Publication of Antonio Nebrija’s Spanish Grammar.

Lyric Poetry in the First Renaissance

Developed in the first half of the 16th century.

Traditional Ballad Lyric Poetry

Traditional song: Real couplets written in Castilian.
Love romances: Collected in cultured songbooks.

Lyric Poetry in Castilian Verse

Maximum representative: Cristóbal de Castillejo.

Italianate Lyric Poetry

Meeting between Andrea Navagero and Boscán, who encouraged him to introduce Petrarchan Italian trends and new forms, Castiglione, hendecasyllable and heptasyllable metrics, mythology, nature themes, and topics.

Lyric Poetry in the Second Renaissance

It was forbidden to leave home to study at foreign universities during the Counter-Reformation.

Petrarchan Lyric Poetry

Themes of love, ornate and rhetorical language.

Horatian Lyric Poetry

Use of the lira, with moral issues. Fray Luis de León.

Religious Lyric Poetry

Utilization of mysticism as a process of union with God, through ascetic (effort and sacrifice), illuminative, and unitive paths.

Poetic Forms

Elegy: Pain of the death of a loved one.
Eclogue: Dialogue of shepherds.
Ode: High-pitched, miscellaneous matters.
Love song.
Satire: Vices and humor topics.

Narrative Subgenres in Verse

Epic of chivalry and romance canar.

Narrative Subgenres in Prose

Novel: Length in space and time.
Story: Short story.
Fiction.
Legend.
Apologist: Have codes of conduct and standards.
Epistle: Doctrinal or philosophical issue addressed to a recipient.
Fable: Anecdotes with personification.
Micro-story.