Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula: A Historical and Social Overview
The Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula
Historical Context
The Middle Ages, a period spanning from the 5th to the late 15th century, significantly shaped Western culture. In the Iberian Peninsula, this era commenced with barbarian invasions that supplanted Roman rule. The Visigoths eventually dominated the territory, imposing their laws and customs. A key figure of Visigothic culture is Saint Isidore of Seville, renowned for his work Etymologies.
In the 8th century, Arab invasions forced Christians
Read More16th-Century Spanish Literature: Renaissance & Mysticism
16th-Century Spanish Literature
Historical Background
Politically, Charles I continued strengthening the royal power established by the Catholic Monarchs. Socially, trade shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Religiously and culturally, two phases emerged: first, under Charles I, Renaissance humanism expanded; second, under Philip II, a conservative Counter-Reformation movement took hold.
Renaissance Culture
Renaissance culture reflects the assimilation of humanism, which places humanity at
Read More13th-15th Century Spanish Literature
13th Century
Mester of Clergy
The mester de clerecía of the 13th century, initiated by Gonzalo de Berceo, employed didactic narratives that blended learned traditions with popular minstrel resources. These narratives, written in Romance by learned authors known as clerics, had a moral and didactic purpose. They used the cuaderna vía stanza, incorporating minstrel expressions and combining themes of cultured and folk traditions.
Gonzalo de Berceo: The first known Spanish author, Gonzalo de Berceo,
Read More20th Century Spanish Theater
Commercial Theater
General Trends and Relevant Authors
a) High Comedy
High comedy offers a mild critique of bourgeois moral conflicts, featuring luxurious settings and careful language. Its leader was Jacinto Benavente, Nobel laureate in 1922. His best-known works include Vested Interests, The Unloved, and The Butterfly Flew Over the Sea.
b) Poetic Drama
This mixed-romantic, historical drama uses modern language. Prominent writers include Francisco Villaespesa (Doña María de Padilla), Eduardo Marquina
Read MorePre-Modernism in Brazilian Literature: A Bridge to Modernism
Pre-Modernism
Introduction
Pre-Modernism in Brazil (1902-1922) wasn’t a formal literary school, but a transitional phase bridging the gap between established movements like Realism, Naturalism, Parnassianism, and Symbolism, and the upcoming Modernism. It culminated with the Week of Modern Art in 1922.
What was Pre-Modernism?
Pre-Modernism, also known as the syncretic period, encompassed the first two decades of the 20th century. It wasn’t an organized movement, but a period of diverse literary production.
Read MoreGeneration of ’27: Key Spanish Poets and Their Works
Generation of ’27: An Overview
Key Poets and Their Contributions
Pedro Salinas
Born in Madrid, Salinas taught literature at various universities. Influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez, he cultivated pure poetry, seeking the essence of things with intellectualized yet deceptively simple verse. His work is categorized into three stages:
- A blend of pure poetry and futuristic themes (e.g., light bulbs, automobiles), including works like Omens, Insurance, and Fabula and Random Sign.
- His most significant period,