Spanish Literature of the 17th Century: Poetry, Novel, and Theater

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 in Latin

Unit 4: 17th-Century Poetry Renaissance

Features of Poetry

His poetry, primarily focused on love, describes his beloved through these aspects:

  1. Blonde hair
  2. White skin and flushed cheeks, reminiscent of a lily
  3. Sexy red lips
  4. Bright eyes
  5. Abundant use of adjectives and hyperbole
  6. Interest in harmony and interpretation rather than nature itself
  7. Frequent references to mythology

Topic 4: Characteristics of Don Quixote

Character development is as crucial as the plot. The author explores how characters behave, react, and feel. Quixote appears ridiculous in his self-made armor. He is nervous, irritable, and intolerant of disagreement. He makes mistakes and seeks forgiveness. An idealist, he strives for good in a world that cannot fulfill his dreams. By the novel’s end, he regains sanity, abandons his fantasies, and questions the value of life. His speech reflects the noble and idealistic language of chivalric literature.

Characterization of Sancho Panza

Sancho Panza serves as a foil to Quixote, joining the adventure with the promise of an island reward. He embodies common sense, representing the ordinary person. Illiterate, his speech is incorrect, using simple and realistic sayings.

Topic 5: Characteristics of Quevedo’s Poetry

  • Sonnets with anaphora
  • Abundant use of metaphors, representing people as objects or animals
  • Use of alliteration
  • Emphasis on invented words
  • Use of contrasting images and objects
  • Abundant use of adjectives

Topic 5: Characteristics of 17th-Century Baroque

Humanity grapples with social and political crises, leading to a deeper existential crisis. Life is perceived as a fleeting journey towards death, filled with deception. Love and luxury are seen as illusions, and life itself is likened to a dream. To escape this reality, people seek refuge in beauty and extravagance.

Lyric poetry becomes a courtier’s plaything, utilizing abundant literary resources. Two main literary currents emerge:

  1. Conceptismo: Expressing profound thoughts with concise language.
  2. Culteranismo: Emphasizing elaborate language, Latinate vocabulary, hyperbole, and complex stanzas.

Topic 6: Baroque Theater

General Characteristics

  • Theater becomes the most cultivated literary genre.
  • It promotes social, political, and religious values, emphasizing the monarchy, social class, and religious honor.
  • Theatrical performances incorporate actors, music, costumes, and spectacle, achieving immense success.
  • Theaters are represented as courtyards surrounded by houses, similar to a coral.
  • Comedy of manners blends tragic and comic elements.
  • A wide stage area accommodates a large audience.
  • Nobles occupy boxes, women sit in the gallery, and men (musketeers) stand in front of the stage.
  • Families rent rooms on the sides.

General Baroque Themes

  • Honor: The most valued sentiment in the 17th century. Insulted honor often leads to death as punishment, affecting both nobles and villains.
  • Religion: Closely tied to celestial and sacramental sources, authors create allegorical characters representing vices, lies, and sin.
  • Popular Songs: These songs inspire novels and plays based on Spanish history and national traditions, contributing to the development of comedias de capa y espada.
  • Characters:
    • The King: Represents law and order.
    • The Galán (Gallant): A handsome, brave nobleman embodying courage and nobility.
    • The Dama (Lady): Represents beauty and love.
    • The Gracioso (Clown): The nobleman’s servant and advisor.
    • The Criada (Maid): The lady’s servant and advisor.
    • The Villano (Villain): Often a farmer seeking justice against the nobleman’s abuse of power and seeking to restore his honor.
    • The Rico Villano (Rich Villain): A negative character who dishonors the noble lady and often dies.
  • Lope de Vega and the New Comedy: Lope de Vega establishes new theatrical standards in the 17th century, breaking the rule of three unities. His plays feature a main plot and a subplot, are divided into three parts (introduction, climax, and resolution), and mix tragic and comic elements, as well as noble and commoner characters.