Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Latin for Baccalaureate

The first half of the twentieth century was a very rich period from a literary point of view. The authors of the Generation of '98 used the genre as a key vehicle of expression, while the authors belonging to the Novecentismo or Generation of '14 intended to seek new narrative forms.

The Novel in the Generation of '98

The novel is the most important genre for many cultured members of this group. The subjects they preferred were Spain, the causes of decay, history, people... further reflection on man and his destiny. These authors did not focus on the history of great characters; an essential element in the novels of the Generation of '98 is the description of the landscape as reflecting a particular mood.

In terms of style, these authors were...

Spanish Drama Before 1939

Spanish drama up to 1939 saw very strong trading conditions with a local predominance of private, public taste that came to their rooms (the bourgeoisie). There were few possibilities to reach the capacity for self-criticism of the Spanish theater audience. The first third of the century is divided into two fronts: the triumphant-follower stage, which triumphed in the late nineteenth century.

Key Movements and Playwrights

A] Bourgeois Comedy with Benavente

B] Verse Drama, with Contributions of Modernism

C] Comic Theater, with a Predominant Traditional Style

Jacinto Benavente (1866-1954)

Jacinto Benavente is the most representative figure of the possibilities and limitations of the bold moment. He had a beginning with "The...

The Roman Republic: Government and Structure

The Roman Republic was characterized by a republican system of government. Citizens elected a number of magistrates responsible for different aspects of the city's organization and functioning. This system included:

Citizen Assemblies (Comitia)

• Comitia Curiata: Dating back to the monarchical era.
• Comitia Centuriata: Based on the division of citizens into 193 centuries (from the time of Servius Tullius). This assembly elected senior magistrates and was involved in matters of peace and war.
• Comitia Tributa: Based on the grouping of citizens into 35 tribes. This assembly elected lower magistrates and military tribunes.

Senior Magistrates

Senior magistrates shared three key characteristics: annuity, collegiality,...

Catalan Novel of War and Psychological Features

The Catalan novel is defined by themes of the Civil War and psychological features. Key influences include the personal worlds found in works like The Diamond Square (La plaça del Diamant), Bearn by Llorenç Villalonga, and Broken Mirror (Mirall trencat).

Stage 1: Childhood in Barcelona (1908–1920)

Born in Barcelona in 1908, Mercè Rodoreda was an only child. Her grandfather was a major influence, telling her stories and tales that transmitted a love for flowers, the earth, and the Catalan language. Her walks around the towers of Sant Gervasi inspired the setting of Broken Mirror. At age 9, she left school to take care of her sick grandfather. His subsequent death led to a period of deep loneliness...

Juan Ramón Jiménez: Life and Poetic Nudity

Born in Huelva in 1881, Juan Ramón Jiménez died in Puerto Rico in 1958. In 1956, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. The appearance of his great love was highly important in his life and work. His poetry was characterized by the desire for full poetic nudity and purity, alongside a popular attraction, focusing especially on aesthetic, ethical, and philosophical thought. He is considered a key Modernist poet.

Poetic Periods and Major Works

His work is usually divided into three periods:

1. Sensitive Period (Modernist Excesses)

Works like Free Sensitive Plant and Souls of Violet Water Lilies reveal early Modernist excesses (allegory, symbols of autumn, twilight).

2. Intellectual Period (Pursuit

The Epic Tradition

The tradition attributed to Homer, a blind bard of the eighth century BC, credits him with the authorship of the two major Greek epics: the Iliad and the Odyssey. While many songs likely existed beforehand to glorify the deeds of ancient warriors, Homer consolidated and structured them into a unified work, which does not detract from his achievement. Greek epics were composed to be recited before nobles and thrived in environments with little participation from the common people. In these tales, the gods are deeply involved, appearing like men and often prying into human lives, while fate remains supreme.

The Odyssey follows the numerous adventures of Odysseus, the Greek leader who participated in the Trojan War, as he attempts...

The Triumph of Bacchus: Stages of Inebriation

It has been said that each figure represents a different stage of a binge. Their cheerful and euphoric faces are further worsened until they reach the full state of Bacchus's drunkenness. Bacchus himself is depicted sitting on a barrel of wine, presiding over the scene.

The Spinners: The Myth of Arachne and Athena

The Spinners depicts the story of Arachne and her dispute with Athena. The young Arachne was a highly skilled weaver, admired by everyone. People from all over praised her, suggesting she might even be Athena, the goddess of the arts, herself. Proud of her talent, Arachne would not willingly accept the compliment, as she believed Athena had little to teach her.

The goddess appeared to Arachne...

Spanish Romantic Poetry

Lyric Poetry: Characterized by its subjective nature and reflection of the landscape of the soul. It is full of love, utilizing various meters and stanzas. Key authors include:

• José de Espronceda: Active in the first half of the 19th century.
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro: Active in the second half of the 19th century.

Romantic Narrative and Legends

Narrative: These works relate to historic events and legends of the Middle Ages and the 16th century. They often use the strophic form of the romance, featuring a bright style and expressivist strength. Key authors include Espronceda, Zorrilla, and the Duke of Rivas.

Characteristics of Romantic Theater

Theater: Romantic drama rejects neoclassical rules (preferring...

• Songs of Love: These are transpositions of Provençal tired poetry into the Galician-Portuguese tradition. The troubadour addresses his lady, lamenting her rejection or contempt using terms borrowed from the feudal world. These ballads typically lack a chorus and feature a well-defined metric structure. Main article: Cantiga de amor
• Cantigas de Amigo: This is a unique Galician-Portuguese lyric genre, unprecedented in Provençal literature. A woman always speaks in these poems, often in recurring situations such as pilgrimages. The theme is consistently love, with nature playing a significant role. Its structure is based on metric parallelism. Main article: Cantiga de amigo

The Courtly Tradition

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Church's influence...

Narrative Theory: Structure and Features

Narrative is defined by a word count and a narrator. Key features include:

• Referential Function: A succession of events primarily focused on the narrative.
• Fictional World: The narrator belongs to the world of fiction.
• Prose Predominance: Most narratives are written in prose.

Narrative Subgenres

1. Epic Poem: Extensive narrative verse telling a hero's story in high-art meter.
2. Romance: Short narrative poems with assonant rhyme in even lines.
3. Fable: A short story with an ideological or moral purpose.
4. Short Story (Cuento): A brief prose narrative presenting a conflict that evolves through time and space, with either an open or closed ending.
5. Novel (Novela): An extensive narration presenting a complex world.

Narrative