Medieval Narrative Verse Forms
Medieval Narrative Verse
The Epic
The medieval epic unfolded between the 12th and 14th centuries, linked to the minstrel, a popular character. Epic poems sought to spread two important aspects of the time:
- The spirit of chivalry and feudal ideals at the time of the first emerging nations.
- The story of the extraordinary exploits of a hero who represents the ideals of the people, whose identity is aimed at consolidating.
Features
Epic poems were anonymous and composed to be recited with music and performance.
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literary Forms
Epic Poetry
Medieval epic poetry is constituted by so-called epic poems.
Examples
French Epic
- Chanson de Roland: Based on the historical figure of the knight Roland from Charlemagne’s court.
Spanish Epic
- Cantar de Mio Cid: The only preserved Castilian epic. Based on the last years of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid, a knight at the courts of Sancho IV and Alfonso VI of Castile and León. Attributed to Per Abbat.
Structure of Cantar de Mio Cid
The poem is structured in three parts:
- Song of Exile: Narrates
Literary Terms and Text Analysis
Literary Terms Defined
Imagery: It is the representation through language of sense experience. An image most often suggests a mental picture (sight), but an image may also represent a sound, smell, taste, or tactile experience.
Similes: A comparison between two things which are essentially dissimilar. The comparison is directly stated through words such as ‘like’, ‘as’, ‘than’, or ‘resembles’.
Metaphor: A comparison between two things which are essentially dissimilar. The comparison is implied rather
Read MoreKey Literary Terms, Rhetorical Devices, and Classic Examples
Foundational Literary and Rhetorical Knowledge
Part 1: Basic Dramatic and Narrative Terms
Foil: A character who contrasts and parallels the main character in a play or story (like Sancho Panza and Doctor Watson).
Stichomythia: Line-by-line conversation, usually an exchange of “one-liners” between two characters in a play.
Enjambment: The running on of the sense of one verse line to the next, without a pause.
Denouement: After the climax, the falling action is a part in which events and conflicts
Read MoreMiddle English Period History (1066-1485)
Middle English Period (1066-1485)
Some people refer to this era as the Pre-Renaissance period.
11th Century (1066-1100)
1066: Following the death of Edward the Confessor, Harold, the queen’s brother, was proclaimed king. However, William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. Harold was killed in the Battle of Hastings, leading to William becoming king of England (reigned 1066-1087), known as William the Conqueror.
William ordered the publication of the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land holdings.
Read MoreSpanish Neoclassical Literature: Reason, Rules & Key Authors
Neoclassicism: Reason and Rules in Literature
Neoclassicism considered Greek and Latin writers as role models. It represented a return to Greco-Roman classics, which is the origin of the term ‘neo-classicism’. Neoclassicism gave preference to reason over feelings and imposed rules to which literary works must conform. As a result, lyrical production was largely abandoned. It rejected the imaginative and fantastic, as writing was intended not to educate, but to entertain. Neoclassical literature has
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