Troubadour Poetry: History, Courtly Love, and Key Figures
Troubadour Poetry
In the 12th century in Catalonia, the first examples of cultured lyric poetry in the Romance language appeared: troubadour poetry.
The Provençal Language of Poetry
It was not cultivated in Catalan, but in the Provençal or Occitan language until the 15th century. The reasons for the adoption of Provençal in Catalan territory were:
- The great success and prestige achieved by troubadour poetry throughout Western Europe.
- Geographical proximity fostered political, cultural, and economic
Ausias March: Knight, Poet, and Master of Love
A 15th-Century Life
Ausias March, son of the poet Ausias March and Lionor Ripoll, was born in Gandia (Valencia) around 1397. His father died in 1413, leaving Ausias a large estate at age 16. Six years later, he was knighted and summoned by King Alfonso V of Aragon for military expeditions to Sardinia and Corsica. Ausias March bravely fought against the Genoese (1420-1422) and North African pirates (1424).
From 1425, Ausias March focused on his property (introducing sugarcane cultivation), hunting,
Read MoreModernism and the Generation of ’98 in Spanish Literature
1. Historical Context: Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernist literature emerged within a complex historical context. Socially, the late 19th century witnessed the prelude to revolts across Europe, culminating in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Politically, tensions arising from the colonization of Africa and Asia led to World War I (1914-1918). In Spain, 1898 marked the loss of the last overseas colonies (Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines) after defeat by the U.S., known as the Disaster
Read MoreArt Nouveau and Modernism in Spanish Literature: The Generation of ’98
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l Art Nouveau and Modernism:
Art movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Modernism is the term that designates a stream of artistic renewal developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. According to different countries, received several names:
The Generation of ’98 is the name that has been traditionally grouped with a group of writers, poets, essayists and Spanish that were deeply affected by the moral crisis and social policy brought about in Spain
Read MoreMiguel Hernández: A Poet’s Journey Through Image, Politics, and War
Image and Symbol in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
Early Influences and Themes
Between 1924 and 1931, Miguel Hernández (MH) underwent a formative period. The garden of Orihuela, a sensual and colorful landscape, profoundly impacted the young poet’s sensitivity. This fertile nature inspired his early, vibrant verses and lyrical material, shaping the themes of his early work. While he claimed, “The lemon from my garden has had more influence on me than all the poets together,” this was only partially
Read MoreTransition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance
Transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance (XV-XVI Centuries)
1. Late Middle Ages
In this period, two types of works stand out: the romance and cancionero poetry, which fully reflect their medieval heritage. At the end of the 15th century, La Celestina was published, a work that points directly to the Renaissance.
1.1. Ballads
A ballad is a collection of ballads, narrative poems that have these characteristics:
- They consist of octosyllabic verses, with assonant rhyme in even lines.
- They do not