16th Century Spanish Renaissance: Literature & Society

Historical, Cultural, and Literary 16th Century

In the 16th century, Spain was a vast empire stretching across Europe and America. Politically, there were two periods:

Charles I (1516-1556): A time of openness to outside influences, Spain was influenced by other countries.

Philip II (1556-1598): Closer ties to Italian influence. This period was marked by continuous wars to maintain Spanish dominance and papal authority against reformist ideas from Germany and the Netherlands. Funding these wars

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20th Century Spanish Theater: From Dictatorship to Democracy

20th Century Spanish Theater

From Dictatorship to Democracy

The 20th century witnessed constant change across all spheres of life: scientific, technological, and ideological. Between 1939 and 1975, Spain lived under Franco’s dictatorship. The postwar period was marked by famine and political isolation. This closure ended in the early fifties with increased openness and improved living standards. In the sixties, industrial development fostered foreign influence, clashing with Franco’s ultra-conservative

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Chronicle of a Death Foretold: A Novel of Magical Realism

Chronicle of a Death Foretold: Narrative Renewal in Latin American Literature

The Rise of Magical Realism

From the 1940s, Latin American narrative began a period of renewal and enrichment, marked by:

  • Assimilation of European and American literary techniques.
  • Bold aesthetic experimentation and avant-garde influences, impacting language itself.
  • The emergence of magical realism, blending mythical and magical elements into credible plots, reflecting the unique realities of Latin America.

This new narrative

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Evolution of Spanish Novels: Realism to Modernity

Novel 50: Social Realism

The alarmist and introspective novel evolves into a social novel, seeking objectivity through detailed descriptions of environments. It manifests a critical attitude towards society. Novelists opposed to the regime feel the need for commitment to transform the political system. This shift in narrative renewal is led by The Hive (1951) by Camilo José Cela (1926), not published in Spain until 1962 due to censorship. The action takes place in Madrid, in a sordid environment

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Pompeii’s Tragic Poet House & Roman Art Treasures

Tragic Poet House in Pompeii

The House of the Tragic Poet (domus) in Pompeii had two flats, but only the ground floor is preserved. It features two large rooms, an enclosed courtyard (atrium), and a courtyard surrounded by a portico with columns (peristyle). Two entrances (tabernae) opened to the street. The domus is entered through a vestibule leading to the atrium, which has an opening (compluvium) with a rectangular basin (impluvium) to collect water. Guest rooms (cubicula) surround the atrium.

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Spanish Literary Masters: Berceo, Ruiz, Manrique

Gonzalo de Berceo: Didactic Literature Serving Faith

Berceo’s work, not meant to be original, draws from written sources, lending it authority. His works are classified as:

1. Lives of Saints: Lives of Santo Domingo de Silos, San Millán de la Cogolla, Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, and Life of St. Oria.

2. Doctrinal Works.

3. Marian Works: Miracles of Our Lady.

Style Features:

  • Simple style
  • Reliance on written sources
  • Tendency to romanticize
  • Use of minstrel resources, like vocatives and oral literature expressions
  • Rhetorical
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