Valencian Literature: Renaissance to Neoclassicism
Valencian Literature
From Renaissance to Neoclassicism
1. Renaissance (14th-16th Century)
This period saw the spread of humanism across Europe, reviving interest in classical works. The transition from Valencian to Castilian is evident in the literature of this time.
Theater
Works were written in Spanish or bilingually. Notable playwrights include:
- Joan Ferrandis d’Heredia: La Vesita
- Luis Milán: La Cortesana
Poetry
Medieval traditions continued, with influences from the Valencian school and religious satirical poetry. Key features and poets include:
- Persistence of folk poetry and traditional forms.
- Attempts at metrical innovation.
- Serafí de Pera: Poet and painter known for his use of colloquialisms and Castilian influences.
- Joan Timoneda: Published songbooks predominantly featuring imitations of traditional folk poetry.
Prose
- Cristòfor Despuig: Known for his historiographical work and served as the city archivist.
2. Baroque (17th Century)
The Baroque period reflects a shift from optimism to pessimism and disillusionment.
Poetry
Common themes included the passage of time, the brevity of life, the imminence of death, and the tragicomic nature of existence. Two main styles emerged:
- Conceptismo: Highly conceptual poetry using arbitrary associations, provocative imagery, and cruel parodies of mythology. A key figure is Francesc Vicent Garcia.
- Culteranismo: Focused on creating a world of absolute beauty through metaphors, neologisms, and hyperbaton. Francesc Fontanella is a representative of this style.
3. Illustration and Neoclassicism (17th-18th Century)
The Illustration, or Age of Enlightenment, emerged in 17th-century Europe, followed by Neoclassicism in the 18th century, which reflected Enlightenment ideals in arts and literature.
Poetry
Neoclassical poetry continued some Baroque aesthetics but became increasingly narrative, satirical, or didactic. Poets imitated classical themes and forms. Notable poets include:
- Joan Ramis
- Andreu Ferrer
- Joan Baptista Escorigüela
Theater
17th-century theater saw a mix of popular theater, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. Neoclassical theater adopted the rule of three unities (time, place, and action), favored historical, mythological, and religious themes, and often presented a moral or didactic purpose. Tragedy was commonly written in verse. Joan Ramis is a prominent playwright of this era.
Prose
Scholarly prose focused on defending the Valencian language, as seen in works like Instruccions per a l’ensenyança de minyons by Baldiri Reixach. Narrative prose gained prominence with Lluís Galiana’s collection of fables, inspired by Torres Villarroel. El calaix del sastre (The Tailor’s Drawer) by the Baron d’Almenar is also noteworthy.