Spanish Literature from Medieval to Baroque Periods
Medieval Literature
Don Juan Manuel
A nobleman who combined political and military activity with literary pursuits, Don Juan Manuel is considered the first Castilian author. He cared deeply about his prose style. His manuscripts, though lost, were originally stored in the monastery of Peñafiel.
Jorge Manrique
Born in Palencia and died in battle, Jorge Manrique is a 15th-century Castilian poet renowned for blending tradition and originality. His poetry, notably the Coplas a la muerte de su padre (Couplets on the Death of His Father), represents an extraordinary moral elegy.
Prose in the 14th and 15th Centuries: Books of Chivalry
Chivalric novels, originating from French verse, often featured the Knights of the Holy Grail and the Knights of the Round Table.
Medieval Theater
Early medieval drama was primarily religious, performed in cloisters and public squares.
Celestina (1499)
Attributed to Fernando de Rojas, whose name appears in acrostics within the work, Celestina has a moralizing intention, aiming to show the destructive effects of passions. However, the emphasis on love and the characters’ individualism hints at the burgeoning Renaissance.
Renaissance Literature
The Lyric in the Renaissance
The Renaissance, a broad cultural movement, revived classical Greek and Latin culture. Humanism, arising in late 14th-century Italy and spreading across Europe, emphasized studying classical languages and enthusiastically appreciating the world and humanity.
Renaissance Themes
Love, nature, and mythology were prominent themes.
Garcilaso de la Vega
Garcilaso’s poetic works consist of:
- Eclogues: Typically dialogues in verse.
- Sonnets: Focused on feminine beauty, love, and mythology.
- Lyrics: Primarily centered on the theme of love.
His recurring themes are love, nature, and mythology.
Mystic Literature
Key figures include Fray Luis de León and St. John of the Cross.
Baroque Literature
The Baroque Period
A time of crisis and decay marked by wars, economic hardship, famine, and disease, the Baroque period contrasted sharply with the optimistic Renaissance. Baroque poetry featured popular trends alongside two cultured styles: culteranismo and conceptismo.
- Popular Poetry: Included letrillas, carols, and romances.
- Culteranismo: Prioritized elaborate language and complex syntax over content.
- Conceptismo: Employed ingenious associations of ideas and concise expression.
Luis de Góngora
Góngora’s poetry emphasized formal qualities over personal feelings. His work is often divided into two stages: youth and maturity. He wrote romances on various themes (burlesque, mythological, pastoral), letrillas with refrains, and sonnets exploring love and Baroque themes.
Francisco Quevedo
Quevedo’s poetry can be grouped into three categories:
- Pessimistic and Disillusioned: Reflecting the author’s and the era’s outlook.
- Love Poems: Often combining love and death, influenced by Petrarch.
- Satirical and Burlesque: Known for its irony, hyperbole, and character deformation.
Cervantes and Don Quixote
Don Quixote explores human cruelty, the conflict between reality and fiction, madness, literature, and the influence of books of chivalry.
16th and 17th Century Theater
16th-Century Theater
Characterized by religious themes and classical influences, imitating Greco-Roman theater. Short, humorous interludes called pasos were performed between acts.
17th-Century Theater
Theater flourished in the 17th century. Performances took place in courtyards with platforms for actors. Lope de Vega revolutionized Spanish theater by:
- Mixing tragic and comic elements.
- Breaking the rule of three unities.
- Dividing plays into three acts.
- Using varied meter and appropriate language.
- Including lyrical elements and diverse themes.
Lope’s primary aim was to entertain the audience.
tertain the audience.