Spanish Renaissance Poetry: Lyrics and Religious Influence
The Lyrics in the Second Spanish Renaissance
Reasons for the Counter-Reformation
Pope Pius IV initiated the Counter-Reformation in 1560 in response to Protestant criticism, particularly after Charles I’s failure to maintain the empire united under the Catholic confession. Philip II thus became the champion of this movement.
- To prohibit young people from studying at foreign universities.
- To carefully monitor reading and current trends.
Second Poetic Renaissance: The Petrarchan Lyric
The Petrarchan lyric was prominent. Poets following this trend showed a preference for themes of love and the use of ornate and rhetorical language. Fernando de Herrera of Seville’s poetry reflects changes in both theoretical concepts and the search for a renewed language.
The Horatian Lyric
In the ideological atmosphere during the reign of Philip II, some authors favored poetry that cultivated moral issues. Formally, the verse used is the lyre, and its speech is clipped. Poets like Francisco de Aldana, Francisco de la Torre, and, importantly, Fray Luis de Leon, are known as the Castilian or Salamanca school.
Religious Lyric
Religious literature is divided into ascetical and mystical literature. These two parts of theology claim it is possible to obtain the union of the soul with God.
- Asceticism: Seeks to improve people through a lifetime of effort and sacrifice. Notable authors include Fray Luis de Leon, Fray Luis de Granada, and San Juan de la Cruz.
- Mysticism: Aims at the union of the soul with God. This process is divided into three stages:
- Purgation: The soul is stripped of earthly ties.
- Illumination: The peace that God gives.
- Union: The mystic’s soul unites with God.
Key figures include St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus.
Fray Luis de Leon
Fray Luis de Leon was the maximum representative of ascetic lyrics. An author of the Salamanca school, he translated poetry, classical, and biblical texts.
- Themes: The theme of his works is the desire for solitude and retreat from the bustle of city life, taking refuge in nature, as well as peace and religion.
- Style: His poetry is mostly divided into odes, and the verse used is the lira. Characteristics include:
- A sense of humor and irony.
- Linguistic perfection in simplicity.
- Use of the second person and exclamations.
- Rhetorical figures of speech: enumeration, interrogation, and enjambment.
- Continuous symbols of nature associated with the use of epithets.
- Personification and metaphors.
- Works: The most important are:
- Ode to Retired Life: Links for those who choose peace.
- Ode to Francisco Salinas: Dedicated to a friend who was a professor of music.
- Calm Night: Uses the image of a starry night.
- Ode to the Ascension: This work again presents the theme of flight.
- Pit Prophecy: Adapts a medieval legend about Spanish King Rodrigo to a Horatian style.
St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross is, alongside Santa Teresa, a leading figure in the religious literature of the second half of the sixteenth century.
- Themes: His poems reflect great religious inspiration and attempt to communicate his mystical experiences.
- Style: He uses symbols and allegories, employing the image of the union between a man and a woman through marriage to symbolize the mystic union between the soul and God. He also uses comparisons and metaphors.
- Works:
- Dark Night of the Soul
- Spiritual Canticle
- Living Flame of Love