Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Latin

Other Languages are Spanish: Galician, Catalan and Basque

Galician, which comes from Portuguese-Galician formed in the northwest, expanded south with the Reconquista. It had a flourishing literary culture in the Middle Ages, later declined, and reappeared with Romanticism. Currently, it is spoken in western Asturias, El Bierzo, and northwestern Zamora. However, it is in Galicia where the language is recognized as official.

The second language, Catalan, born in the northeast corner, was spreading through Catalonia, the Kingdom of Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. At first, it enjoyed a huge literary development that eventually fell into decay and resurfaced with the Renaixença. Today, it is the official language of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands,... Continue reading "Bilingualism and Diglossia in Spain: Languages" »

Literatura Medieval Española: Siglos XI al XV

Primeros Textos Literarios en Romance

Siglo XI: Las Jarchas

• Primeros textos literarios en lengua romance.

Épica Medieval Castellana

Cantar de Mio Cid (Finales del Siglo XII)

• Autor anónimo.
• Difusión oral por los juglares en el siglo XII.
• Crónica de las aventuras de Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid.
• Tema principal: La pérdida y recuperación de la honra del héroe.
• Estructura: Dividido en tres partes o cantares:
  • Primer Cantar: Cantar del Destierro.
  • Segundo Cantar: Cantar de las Bodas.
  • Tercer Cantar: Cantar de la Afrenta de Corpes.
• Métrica: Versos de 16 sílabas (16A, 16-, 16A), con rima asonante, divididos en dos hemistiquios de 8 sílabas.

Prosa Didáctica y Narrativa

Siglo XIII: Colecciones de Parábolas y

Understanding Spanish Linguistic Varieties

Diatopic varieties, also known as dialects, are linguistic variations that respond to geographical factors.

Northern Spanish Dialects

Primarily found in the Castilianized northern areas, these dialects are linguistically more conservative, reflecting traditional Castilian features.

• Pronunciation of final 'd' and 'z': Examples include Madriz (Madrid) and soledaz (soledad).
• Pronunciation of 'c' in final syllables as 'z': Such as pazto (pasto) and contazto (contacto).
• Loss of 'd' in 1st conjugation past participles (-ado): For instance, cansao (cansado) and revisao (revisado).
• Addition of '-s' to the 2nd person singular preterite perfect simple: Examples include dijistes (dijiste) and contastes (contaste).
• Leísmo

Pedro Calderón de la Barca

He wrote a theater of ideas, which deepened the moral and philosophical concerns of his era. The dilemmas reflected in his dramas include the passage of time, the misleading nature of reality, and honor (e.g., El Alcalde de Zalamea and Life is a Dream).

The Enlightenment (17th-18th Centuries)

Originating in England and France, the Enlightenment was a philosophical and intellectual movement that emphasized reason and individualism over tradition. It was characterized by:

• Defense of reason over faith
• Confidence in science and education
• The goal of eradicating superstition and ignorance

"Everything for the people, but without the people." This phrase reflects the enlightened despotism adopted by monarchs like Carlos III of... Continue reading "Spanish Literature in the Age of Enlightenment" »

Lazarillo de Tormes inaugurates a new literary subgenre: the picaresque novel. It takes the form of a pseudo-autobiographical story. The protagonist, of miserable origins, abandons his family environment and serves several masters. The main character has a picaresque character (astute, prudent, suspicious) and a strong desire to prosper. The story aims to explain a final state of dishonor.

Date and Authorship

The first editions kept are dated 1554, and all manuscripts are missing. No author is listed.

Literary Sources

• The Golden Ass, where the work of Apuleius influences the nature of the main character.
• Boy with Many Masters, a fourth book about the brave knight Rinaldo de Montalban, influences the autobiographical narrative process.
• Carat Loves

Ramon Llull's Epistola: A Poetic Analysis

This document discusses a significant poem by the Majorcan polymath, Ramon Llull, one of the greatest lyrical poets of his time. Among his works, the poem known as Epistola stands out. It possesses an autobiographical character, reflecting the style of a thirteenth-century troubadour whose compositions were performed publicly.

Llull's Background and Mission

Ramon Llull hailed from the nobility, a well-educated stratum capable of reading and writing. He famously abandoned his social status to preach to "infidel" ethnic groups, driven by a profound evangelizing desire.

The Epistola: Genre and Characteristics

The Epistola belongs to the literary genre of poetry, characterized by its use of verse and rhetorical... Continue reading "Ramon Llull's Epistola: Medieval Poetic Analysis" »

Mester de Clerecía: 13th and 14th Centuries

Characteristics and Content

The Mester de Clerecía is the set of works composed by clerics during the 13th and 14th centuries. These texts have ethical content and a didactic, religious purpose. The stanza employed is the cuaderna vía. They were transmitted orally because the majority of the population was illiterate.

Gonzalo de Berceo

Gonzalo de Berceo is the first known Castilian poet. The Miracles of Our Lady are stories of miracles in which the Virgin Mary protects and forgives. It is divided into two parts: an introduction and a set of twenty-five miracles.

1. Presentation
2. Devotee's difficulties
3. Appearances of the Virgin
4. Final reflections

The Book of Good Love

The Book of Good Love, written by Juan Ruiz,

The Generation of '98: A Pivotal Era in Spanish Literature

The year 1898 is symbolic, marking a pivotal literary period in modern Spanish literature. It is famously known as the "year of disaster."

Historical Context and Emergence

The remnants of Spain's former colonial empire succumbed to the strong force of the United States in a dispute over colonial territories. This political discontent, widespread depression, and moral and economic plight characterized Spain as it witnessed the U.S. seize its last possessions. This profound national crisis became the central theme and motivation for a restless group of young intellectuals, who were then around thirty years old.

This painful reality captured the national attention and passion of the Generation... Continue reading "The Generation of '98: Spanish Literary Renewal" »

Romanticism

Romantic poets had as their themes: rejection of the environment, emotional excitement, liberated longing, and communion with nature.

• Poetry: Intimate lyric poetry that expresses the frustrations of the poet.
• Narrative: Collected legends and historical themes.

José de Espronceda

He is a romantic liberal prototype, exalted. His poetry is a passionate hymn to freedom, with a brilliant, musical, and effective style.

Works: Sancho Saldaña, Blanca de Borbón, El Estudiante de Salamanca, El Diablo Mundo, Hymn to the Sun.

Style: Pompous and emphatic, brilliant musicality.

Late Romanticism

Intimate romantic lyricism reached its climax late, with Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro. Both favor a simple, lyrical, and introspective style.... Continue reading "Spanish Literature: Romanticism to the Generation of '98" »

The Generation of 27: Formation and Context

The Generación del 27 was a group of writers and poets who met primarily at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid. They were published roughly between 1920 and 1935.

The group celebrated the 300th anniversary of the death of Luis de Góngora, an event that solidified their identity and shared literary goals.

Principal Authors

The group included:

• Pedro Salinas
• Jorge Guillén
• Gerardo Diego
• Vicente Aleixandre
• Luis Cernuda
• Dámaso Alonso
• Rafael Alberti
• Federico García Lorca
• Manuel Altolaguirre
• Emilio Prados

Defining Characteristics and Style

The poetry of the Generación del 27 is marked by:

• Mixture of Tradition and Modernity: A blend of avant-garde techniques with classical Spanish literary forms.
• Passion for Classics: