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

Garcilaso de la Vega (1501–1536)

Garcilaso de la Vega (Toledo, 1501 – Nice, 1536) was a Spanish Renaissance poet. His life was developed within the ambit of the Court, in the service of Emperor Charles V. He performed diplomatic missions and visited Italy multiple times, where he met renowned poets and humanists who introduced him to the new Renaissance sensibility.

Works

He wrote three eclogues, five songs, two elegies, an epistle, and forty sonnets. His success was tremendous, and he became a classic humanist admired and studied in universities. Castilian poets of later centuries have regarded him as a true master.

San Juan de la Cruz (1542–1591)

San Juan de la Cruz was born in Fontiveros (Ávila) in 1542. He joined the Order of Carmel at...

Renaissance Literature

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)

Montaigne's essays hold immense importance as they pioneered a fruitful literary genre. His introspective writing reflects his individuality, a hallmark of humanist thought, exploring the 'ego' in the context of human existence. Key characteristics of Montaigne's essays include their free-flowing form, incorporation of diverse topics, digressions, and use of quotations. The essay, as a genre, is typically concise in its treatment of a subject.

The Renaissance (Early 16th - Late 17th Century)

Key Features:

1. Resurgence of Platonic ideals of goodness, beauty, and art, representing a utopian ideal.
2. Focus on the theme of love, influenced by Petrarchism.
3. Influence of Aristotle's Poetics (tragedy and

Crisis, Renewal, and Diversification of the Catalan Novel

Noucentisme prioritized poetry and the essay and did not give much importance to the novel. The Catalan novel experienced a strong revival starting in 1925. The resumption of the novel led to a notable increase in publishers, collections, and critics specializing in the genre, translations of foreign novelists, the creation of literary prizes for novels, and the consolidation of an important reading public.

Trends and New Authors in the Novel Revival

The rise of the novel involved different trends and the emergence of new authors:

• Modernist narrators who had ceased writing during the Noucentiste period, such as Prudenci Bertrana and Joan Puig i Ferreter.
• The psychological novel, which focused

Humanism and the Crown of Aragon

Humanism in the Crown of Aragon grew through contacts with Italy, commercial relations, and the papal court of Avignon. Italian authors heavily influenced Catalan prose. During the reign of Peter the Ceremonious, many French translations of classics appeared, which also came thanks to the Royal Chancery because Italian texts arrived there.

The Royal Chancery

Under Peter the Ceremonious, the Royal Chancery was reorganized. It was a great secretariat in the royal palace where writers, notaries, and protonotaries worked. All court documents were written there. The officials dominated three languages: Catalan, Aragonese, and Latin. The writers and copyists were the primary serious translators of classical works into...

Seventeenth-Century Picaresque Novels

The genre evolved with key works such as:

• Guzmán de Alfarache (The Rogue) by Mateo Alemán: Subtitled Atalaya de la vida humana (Watchtower of Human Life), it follows the autobiographical life model of Lazarillo.
• The Buscón by Francisco de Quevedo: A picaresque novel written in a highly cultured, complex, and conceptist style.

Cervantes and Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes: His literary work developed during the height of the Spanish Golden Age. Born in Alcalá de Henares, he served as a page to a cardinal and later fought bravely in the Battle of Lepanto. He attempted to write for the theater (teatro) and saw some of his works staged, but without much financial success. He had several troubles with the law...

Spanish Literature in the 15th Century

In this century, the invention of the printing press arrived in several Spanish cities.

Humanism in Spain

Humanism surged in Spain, characterized by the following features:

• Retrieval of knowledge: It retrieves the knowledge of Greece and Rome.
• Anthropocentric culture: An anthropocentric culture that places man at the center of life, of all knowledge, and of the arts.
• Dignity of language: Humanists fight for the dignity of the language.

Cultural Focus in the 15th Century

Italian Literature Influence

Italian literature is the foundation of all allegory written in this century. Lyrical influence is felt far and wide. Courtly love poetry of Provençal origin is the basis of the cancioneros (songbooks). Latin literature...

1. Historical Context and Preservation

Author unknown. This work was created using the mosaic technique. Sufficient remains of the painted decoration have been preserved to provide an idea of the tastes of the time. The mosaics that decorated the walls and floors of these luxurious houses hold significant historical value.

2. Origins of Roman Mosaics

Roman mosaic art is a Hellenistic legacy, arriving through the ancient Greek colonies of the southern Italian peninsula. Its greatest development occurred during the imperial era, with implementation on both the floors and walls of houses and public buildings.

Mosaic Construction and Techniques

The mosaic is constructed with small pieces of glass paste, glaze, or marble called tesserae. The Sacrifice

Trajan's Column: A Masterpiece of Roman Art

Author: Likely under the direction of Apollodorus of Damascus.

Era: Commissioned by Emperor Trajan (Rome, 113 AD).

Location: Situated between the Greek and Roman libraries, behind the Basilica Ulpia, where the magnificent reliefs can be contemplated.

Function: A monument serving as clear political propaganda for the Emperor.

Technical Aspects and Materials

This triumphal column stands 29.78 meters high. It rests on a cubic pedestal decorated with military trophies and inscriptions. A small chamber within the pedestal was designed to house the ashes of the Emperor. The shaft is hollow, containing a spiral staircase that provides access to the top. Originally topped by a statue of Trajan, the monument is...

Assessment of Los Pazos de Ulloa

This work, belonging to the Realist movement, was produced during the second half of the nineteenth century in Spain. Its historical backdrop is crucial, marked by significant political upheaval.

Historical and Political Context

The period was shaped by the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, which led to the fall and exile of Isabel II and the proclamation of the First Republic in 1873, followed by the eventual restoration of the monarchy. This era established the Bipartisan System (Liberal and Conservative) and entrenched oligarchic centralism. Governance was heavily based on the provincial and rural environment, dominated by local strongmen (warlords or caciques).

This time also saw the consolidation of the...

The Romance Narrative Poems

Anonymous narrative poems, known as romances, were intended to be sung. They are typically composed of eight-syllable rhyming assonance verses paired together. However, some romances feature nine, seven, or six syllables, and some utilize full rhyme.

Dating and Transmission

• Old Romances: These are documented from the late Middle Ages and mid-sixteenth century, when they enjoyed great popularity. Because of their anonymity and oral transmission, they are difficult to date accurately.
• New Romances: These were composed by poets starting in the late sixteenth century, mimicking the shape and style of the ancient forms.

Classification of Romance

Romances of Epic Medieval Theme

These derive from an epic poem or other literary...