Pre-Renaissance Literature: A Transition to Humanism
The Pre-Renaissance: A Period of Transition (15th Century)
The 15th century witnessed a crisis in the medieval value system. A new mentality, more grounded in reality, gradually emerged, foreshadowing the Renaissance (16th century). This era is known as the Pre-Renaissance, a period of transition.
Society and Culture:
- The rise of a new social class: the bourgeoisie, fueled by flourishing commerce.
- Towns, linked to trade, gained importance, and the court played a crucial role in cultural development.
Miguel de Cervantes and the Baroque
Miguel de Cervantes
Early Life and Military Career
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547. In 1569, he traveled to Italy. In 1571, he participated as a soldier in the Battle of Lepanto, where injuries sustained during the battle left him with limited mobility in his left arm. He continued his military service for a period before returning to Spain, where he was captured by Turkish pirates. Held captive in Algiers, he remained imprisoned for five years (1575-1580). After
Read More20th Century Spanish Theater: From Benavente to Valle-Inclán
20th Century Spanish Theater
Early 20th Century Theater
The theater before the Civil War had been stagnant and limited. The successful commercial theater followed several trends. Galdós introduced naturalism, portraying real environments and controversial issues. Jacinto Benavente shaped the new writing style with works featuring minimal conflict and witty dialogue. He wrote comedies and highlighted the struggles of the unloved bourgeois. Costumbrista comedies, poetic drama, and astracán theater
Read MoreEuropean Literature: Shakespeare, Molière, Lope de Vega & More
European Literature: A Journey Through Time
Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Little is known about the private life of the universal playwright William Shakespeare. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he had a broad cultural background but did not attend college. By 1592, he resided in London, where he devoted himself to the theater as a member of the King’s Men and as a theatrical entrepreneur. His renowned tragedies include Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, while his celebrated comedies include A Midsummer
Read MoreSpanish Literature of the 15th Century: Pre-Renaissance & Early Novel
Pre-Renaissance Mentality
During the Pre-Renaissance period, man rediscovered faith in himself and realized his individuality. Encouraged by pagan and materialistic ideals, he believed that life offered many pleasures to be enjoyed.
Genres
Epic poems faded, replaced by old ballads. Under the influence of the court, opera flourished among the educated, sparking interest in carols. Theatrical activity also experienced a strong resurgence.
Old Ballads
These short, lyrical compositions emerged from the fragmentation
Read MoreCatalan Literature: From Romanticism to Naturalism
The Daughter of the Sea
This play celebrates Peter Martyr in Marion, the nephew of a wealthy fisherman in a fishing village. Agate, an orphan girl found at sea after a shipwreck, grows up with the parents of Mariona. Agate loves Peter and tells him that if he marries Mariona, she will celebrate the wedding. This promises fidelity, but due to a misunderstanding, she believes he violates the promise and threatens him. He then throws her into the sea, where they had found her. After 50 years, the play
Read More