Spanish Literature: From Don Juan Manuel to Cervantes
1. The Rules of Language
The set of linguistic uses, denoted as ‘k,’ are used as a model of correct language use and form the basis of what is known as the standard language. The standard language does not match any real linguistic variety. Usually, there are different sub-normative varieties, since the standard language adapts to the way educated people speak in different dialects. The rules of language have the following features:
- They determine what is correct and incorrect.
- They are permeable to discussion among different social groups.
- They are disseminated through education and the media.
- Respect for the rules is greater in some communicative situations than in others.
2. Language Taboos (Profanity)
Taboos are words considered tasteless and are used exclusively in informal situations. Taboo words often refer to four areas: sex, physiology and the eschatological, death and disease, and religion and the supernatural. Their use arouses negative reactions from others. To avoid them, speakers resort to euphemisms, which involve replacing the taboo word with another term that has a more favorable social consideration.
Taunts are related to taboos, widespread in colloquial speech and language considered vulgar. Taunts are isolated words that allow the speaker to express their emotions, tension, aggression, and violence. Often, the meaning of taunts is masked using similar but less direct language. Taunts can be an indicator that a speaker belongs to a low level of culture and education.
3. The Verb Phrase
The verb phrase is characterized by a verb as its nucleus and serves the function of the predicate of a sentence. The verb phrase has the following constituents:
- One or more adverbs that indicate quantity or modality.
- A verb that can be a mandatory or copulative predicate. The copula has an attribute, which is required, with a function of an adjective phrase, noun phrase, prepositional phrase, or adverbial phrase.
- Other phrases that function as complements of the verb or the set formed by the copula and the attribute.
4. Arguments of the Verb (Direct Object, Indirect Object, etc.)
We consider the following additions:
- Personal pronouns are presented as atonic, forming a phonetic unit with the verb: direct object, indirect object, attribute.
- Pseudo-copulative attributes of verbs, and also from some predicative verbs.
- Complements of certain verbs that are necessarily determined with a preposition (governed prepositional complements).
- Circumstantial complements required for place and time.
Direct Object (CD)
Transitive verbs require the presence of a direct object argument that signifies the object of the action. The direct object can be presented as a noun phrase, sentence, prepositional phrase, as a tonic or atonic pronoun, or as a subordinate clause. It is recognized by the following features:
- It can be replaced by: lo, la, los, las.
- In the case of the passive verb construction, the noun phrase functioning as the direct object in the active voice becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
Indirect Object (CI)
Some transitive verbs have another complement argument, the indirect object, which designates the recipient of the action expressed by the verb and the direct object. With some verbs, it can be the unique complement argument. It may occur as a prepositional phrase with “a”, and as an unstressed pronoun. To admit to be taken into account that it can be replaced by him/them.
Don Juan Manuel: El Conde Lucanor
Don Juan Manuel is the most important prose writer of the 14th century in Castile. Nephew of Alfonso X, he was always proud of his lineage and participated in numerous political and military conflicts. His most important works are The Book of the Knight and the Squire and El Conde Lucanor.
El Conde Lucanor: This is the most outstanding work of Don Juan Manuel, written in a tradition that combines teaching and entertainment. The work is formed by 51 examples or stories that are complemented by a set of proverbs and a treatise on the salvation of the soul. In all the stories, there is a common concern, such as maintaining and increasing honor and estate. All the examples have the same narrative scheme: the Count consults with Patronio (his guardian and counselor), and he responds with a story.
Lope de Vega
Lope de Vega was a contemporary of Shakespeare and wrote in practically all the literary genres of his time. He was exceptional, especially in drama. Born into a poor family, he worked as a secretary to the high nobility. He had several wives, lovers, and children. After experiencing a personal crisis, he became a priest, but he later married Marta de Nevares, with whom he had a daughter. In his last years, he suffered a worsening economic situation, and his influence in the court diminished. He died in 1635, three years after his wife.
Lope de Vega was a very famous poet. Besides composing many sonnets (loving, sacred, or burlesque), he also wrote numerous epic poems. Of the 1500 comedies that are preserved, he claims to have composed 400. His usual sources were the Bible, mythology, novels… and love, honor, and the main reasons. His two most important works are:
- Fuenteovejuna: Based on an incident that occurred in the village of Fuente Ovejuna. Faced with the commander’s abuses, the people rebelled against him. The Catholic Monarchs intervened, who, for lack of evidence, acquitted him.
- El caballero de Olmedo: Focuses on the love between Doña Inés and Don Alonso, the Knight of Olmedo. It ends tragically with the murder of Alonso by a rival in love.
At the end of his life, Lope wrote La Dorotea, which was inspired by La Celestina. In this book, he recounts his youthful love with Elena.
Miguel de Cervantes: El Quixote
Don Quixote is Cervantes’ most famous work, published in two parts. The first in 1605, with the title of “The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha”, and the second was published in 1615 under the name “Part Two of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha”.
The Action of the First Part
Don Quixote, a gentleman of good living, loses his mind by reading books of chivalry and decides to become a knight-errant. In a first departure, Don Quixote is knighted. In a second exit, he is accompanied by Sancho Panza. The two do not go with any other purpose than to seek adventure, but when they set captives free, they decide to hide in Sierra Morena. Sancho leaves to deliver a letter to Dulcinea, and on the way, he meets the priest and the barber instead. Upon learning what had happened so far, the two decide to make a plan to deceive Don Quixote and return him home. The plan succeeds, and Don Quixote returns to town.
The Action of the Second Part
: this party, including an episode cervantes just strange. This makes the players continued dialogue k, k enrikece what the character of Don Quixote. In his third outing, Don Quixote and Sancho are directed at first to Zaragoza. Shortly before reaching the city, the heroes are greeted by the dukes of a palace. Upon leaving the palace, Don Quixote decides diriguirse to Barcelona instead of going to the Plaça de barcelona zaragoza.es, Don Quixote is defeated by the bachelor Samson Carrasco, who requires k back to his village and not leave to live new adventures k had been a while. Don Quixote falls ill and dies soon as you reach the village, having reneged on the books of cavallerias