Understanding Novels, Word Formation, Medieval Prose & Theater
Understanding the Novel
Definition: A novel is an extended fictional narrative. It is a text written by an author known to the public.
Characteristics of a Novel
- Length and Complexity: Novels are characterized by their length and complexity.
- Characters: Many characters, which can be flat or round.
- Action: The main story depends on several secondary stories. There is no structure to this chapter.
- Time and Space: Multiple spaces and completeness are needed.
- Narrator: There can be one or more narrators.
How
Read MoreNationalism & 20th Century Music: Styles, Composers, & Evolution
Nationalism in Music
Nationalism is a movement connected with the Romantic era, arising from countries reacting to foreign domination.
Nationalist Music (1850-1919)
This period parallels Romanticism, with a focus on less traditional musical forms. Early nationalist musicians were Russian, followed by Hungarian and Spanish composers. National music was inspired by the folklore and musical traditions of each country.
- Russian: Glinka and Tchaikovsky
- Finnish: Sibelius
- Romanian: Bartok
Spanish Folk Instruments
Traditional
Read MoreRoman Theater: Architecture, Key Elements, and Playwrights
Roman Theater: Stage Design and Key Elements
The first significant Roman theater was the Theater of Pompey, but the Theater of Marcellus, built by Augustus, is considered more important. Roman theaters did not represent a fixed space; instead, they used wooden tables. A common space was the circus (like the Colosseum in Rome).
Key Architectural Components
- Orchestra: The semicircular space between the cavea and scena, originally for the choir in Greek theater.
- Cavea: The part of the theater with bleachers
Classical Music Era: Symphony, Sonata, Opera & Composers
The Symphony Orchestra
The symphony orchestra is a group comprised of about a hundred instruments, mostly string, but also including sections of brass, woodwind, and percussion. Other types of orchestras include the chamber orchestra, string quartet, wind quintet, band, jazz band, and rock and pop groups.
Neoclassical Art and the Enlightenment
The new philosophy of the Enlightenment and archaeological discoveries about classical antiquity promoted the establishment of neoclassical art. Architectural
Read MoreRomantic Music: Creation, Composers, and Instruments
How to Build Romantic Music
Romanticism seeks more emotional expression and the predominance of imagination.
- Use rich modulations, harmonies, chromaticism, and dissonance.
- The melody is still important, becoming passionate and lyrical.
- The orchestra expands greatly, especially in the horn section.
- It seeks the unity of the work with new systems such as the leitmotiv.
The Romantic Periods of Music
- First Romance: A romantic rebel, eager for freedom and novelty.
- Second Romanticism: Romanticism is represented
Renaissance and Humanism: Art, Culture, and Thought
The Renaissance and Humanism
The Rise of Humanism
Humanism, a movement of cultural rebirth, originated in Italy in the 15th century and spread throughout Europe in the 16th century. Its main features include:
- A new way of thinking based on classical culture, reviving ideas from ancient Greece and Rome.
- Humanists focused on the human being and their relationship with nature.
- They believed that the human being, not God, was the center of the world and culture, possessing free will.
- Trust in humanity and