Spanish Baroque: Art, Literature, and Society in 17th Century Spain
The Spanish Baroque: A Cultural Epoch of Crisis and Brilliance
Baroque is a cultural movement that developed in Spain during the 17th century, occurring at a time of crisis and decline for the Spanish Empire.
Socio-Economic Landscape of 17th Century Spain
The aristocracy wasted time in court but lacked lavish celebrations or wealth. Along with the clergy, they maintained their privileged condition of exemption from taxes.
The bourgeoisie and popular classes became impoverished, living through an agrarian
Romanticism in Literature: Spanish Movement, Key Authors, and Artistic Expression
The Essence of Romanticism
Romanticism was a revolutionary movement across all spheres of life. Its precursors include Rousseau and Goethe. It sought to make things more intimate and profound. Key authors were Lord Byron and Victor Hugo, who championed freedom in life.
Romanticism in Spain: A Brief but Complex Era
In Spain, Romanticism arrived late and was relatively short-lived. It is considered a complex cultural movement marked by many contradictions, ranging from rebellion and revolutionary ideas
Read MoreFoundational Linguistic Concepts: Saussure & Coseriu
Ferdinand de Saussure’s Linguistic Theory
The scientific study of Saussure’s language. His structural theory analyzes language and the differences that determine, for example, adjectives and verbs. He established classifications; linguistics is internal. His methodology, which proposes structured language, is one of language signs, each acquiring elements of opposition to others. It emerged from the desire to perform a scientific study of language independently, without regard to historical factors
Read MoreIrish Literary Heritage: Revival, Themes, and Modern Voices
Literary Connections Across the British Isles
Authors from the British Isles or those with ancestral ties to Ireland, Scotland, or Wales are often considered part of a shared literary tradition.
Irish Literature
The Irish Literary Revival
The Irish Literary Revival, led by William Butler Yeats, fostered national independence and political opposition by creating a distinctive vocabulary, particularly in drama and poetry.
Working-Class Voices and Innovative Themes
- There were two significant working-class
Lyric Poetry: Essential Characteristics and Metrical Analysis
Characteristics of Lyric Poetry
Lyric poetry has its origins in classical Greece, in sentimental compositions intended to be sung to the accompaniment of the lyre. The lyric genre is subjective par excellence, based on the revelation and deepening of one’s inner self.
The Nature of Lyric Expression
Lyric poetry is dominated by two key features:
- The Expressive Function: Externalization of the author’s feelings, emotions, ideas, or vision of reality. This leads to the author’s regular presence in the
Literary Insights: Characters and Structure in Oedipus Rex and The Divine Comedy
Oedipus Rex: Characters and Structure
Key Characters in Oedipus Rex
Oedipus
The son of Laius and Jocasta, Oedipus was abandoned at birth due to a prophecy. Unknowingly, he fulfilled this prophecy years later by killing his father, Laius, the King of Thebes, and subsequently marrying his mother, Jocasta, thus becoming the new king.
Creon
Jocasta’s brother, Creon assumes a significant role in the events, particularly after Oedipus seizes the throne. He is portrayed as a passive yet capable man, adept at