The Troubadours: History, Poetry, and Courtly Love
The Troubadours
History and Origins
Troubadours were lyric poets who flourished in Occitania (southern France) during the 12th and 13th centuries. Their influence extended to Catalonia, where poets adapted the Occitan language and troubadour traditions. The first exhibition of poetry in a Romance language, Occitan, emerged in the 12th century. Catalan troubadours initially composed in Occitan, a practice that continued until the 15th century with poets like Ausias March, marking the end of the troubadour
Read MoreRenaissance and Baroque Spanish Literature: Styles and Genres
Renaissance and Baroque Spanish Literature
Humanism
Renaissance thinkers rejected the culture of the preceding centuries, viewing the Middle Ages as a dark interval between Greco-Roman antiquity and the modern world, which they sought to recover and continue.
The study of Greek and Latin classical texts, along with grammatical research and language teaching, was termed Humanism. These activities began in fourteenth-century Italy with figures like Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch, who wrote in both Latin
Read MoreSpanish Theater Before the Civil War: Trends and Renewal
PRIOR TO THE THEATRE THE Civil War
During the period preceding the Spanish Civil War there was a marked sense of crisis as the demographics, economics and mentality were in full decline, it was losing the idea of freedom. Meanwhile in Europe, fascism and begin renovation proposals hardline.
The theater scene began to be characterized by attempts to renew and the realistic drama, the Spanish were influenced mainly by European authors such as D’Anunzzio, Ibsen, and Wilde.
First, we must mention the
Read MoreThe Baroque Period in Spain
1. The Baroque Period in Spain (17th Century)
1.1 Political, Social, and Economic Aspects
Spain, a powerful country at the beginning of the 17th century, experienced decline and territorial loss by mid-century, losing its European hegemony. Several factors contributed to this situation:
- Transfer of Power to Favorites: Secretaries of state, such as the Duke of Lerma (favorite of Philip III) and the Count-Duke of Olivares, exerted significant influence over the monarch.
- Economic Crisis: Wars placed a
Spanish Literature Golden Age, Renaissance & 18th Century
GOLDEN CENTURY (XVI – XVII)
This period, spanning from the Catholic Monarchs to Charles III, saw the development of two major cultural and artistic movements in Spain. These movements are collectively referred to as the Golden Age because they represent a pinnacle of cultural splendor.
During this time, the prevailing philosophy placed humanity at the center of the universe, capable of dominating the world and shaping their own destiny. There was a balance between feeling and reason, emphasizing moderation
Read MoreGolden Age Spanish Literature: Lope, Tirso, Calderón, Quevedo, and Góngora
Golden Age Spanish Literature
Lope de Vega
In addition to his other literary contributions, Lope de Vega achieved immense fame through his dramatic works. His extensive theatrical repertoire includes 42 morality plays and over 300 comedies. His most outstanding works can be categorized into two groups:
- Comedies on National Issues: Fuenteovejuna, Peribáñez y el Comendador de Ocaña
- Comedies on Invented Themes: Love is the most cultivated theme, including the cloak and dagger comedies like La dama boba