Spanish Literature: From Medieval Narratives to Cervantes
Narrative Idealism
Narrative idealists idealized the world with invented characters and implausible arguments.
Cavalry Novel
Originates in the medieval era with the emergence of a hero as a principal character. Highlights include:
- Tirant lo Blanch: Written in Catalan with no fantastic episodes.
- Amadís de Gaula: Characterized by the presence of fantastic elements and knightly virtues, with an emphasis on honor.
Pastoral Novel
Amorous misadventures recounted by idealized shepherds. Shepherds tell their sentimental stories. Related to the novels of Garcilaso.
Author: Jorge de Montemayor, with a work entitled Diana. Gaspar Gil Polo wrote Enamored Diana, which continues the work of Montemayor. Cervantes also published in this genre.
Byzantine Novel
Narratives of love, adventure, and travel in which two lovers undergo separation and suffering, finally finding happiness after reunions.
Work: History of the Loves of Clareo and Florisea.
Moorish Novel
Deals with matters of Granada and falling in love. These works deal with the interactions between Moors and Christians, often with oppositions between them. They have a natural and simple style and are usually set in Andalusia.
Work: History of the Abencerraje and the Beautiful Jarifa.
Realistic Narrative
Picaresque Novel
The most representative works are Lazarillo de Tormes and The Life of the Swindler by Quevedo. Characteristics:
- Recounts the misadventures of characters from a very low social condition.
- Is narrated in the first person, from the beginning to the present.
- The protagonist has a psychological evolution.
- The protagonist writes down everything that happened, including his cunning.
- Everything that happens is subordinate to an end.
- Is realistic.
Miguel de Cervantes
A great writer who lived in the same epoch as Shakespeare.
Life
Born in Alcalá de Henares, he traveled to Italy, was a soldier, and fought in the Battle of Lepanto. He lived in Madrid and Andalusia, where he worked as a tax collector. He served a short sentence in jail for fraud. He published Part I of Don Quixote, but it did not change his economic situation. He died on the same day as Shakespeare.
Work
He was honest in all genres:
- Pastoral Novel: La Galatea. “There is more work in poetry than wit.”
- Theater: Made 10 theatrical works, such as Los Baños de Argel and Numancia.
- Short Novels: Created 12 short novels, “12 Exemplary Novels,” with a didactic purpose.
- Byzantine Novel: The Works of Persiles and Sigismunda.
- Most Important Work: The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, intended as a mockery of chivalric romances.
Exemplary Novels
A collection of 12 short novels with educational value that were released 8 years after the publication of Part I of Don Quixote. Love is central in the 12 works. They can be divided into 3 groups:
- In which love is the starting point, ending in a relationship. These are: The Gypsy Girl, The English Spanish Girl, The Generous Lover, The Power of Blood, and The Illustrious Kitchen Maid.
- In which there is a need for marriage: The Two Damsels and Lady Cornelia.
- In which love and marriage are less important: Rinconete and Cortadillo, The Lawyer of Glass, The Jealous Extremaduran, The Deceitful Marriage, and Dialogue of the Dogs.