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

Cantar de Mio Cid

Date of Composition and Authorship

Cantar de Mio Cid was written in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. Although traditionally attributed to Per Abbad, it is now believed he was merely a copyist. The current consensus is that the poem was composed by two minstrels.

Structure

The poem is divided into three parts (or "cantares"):

• Cantar del Destierro (Song of Exile)
• Cantar de las Bodas (Song of the Weddings)
• Cantar de la Afrenta de Corpes (Song of the Corpes Affront)

Metrics and Style

• Epic Epithets: Adjectives used to highlight the characteristics of the hero.
• Pleonasms: Used to give expression to the text.
• Appeals to the Audience: Used to keep the audience's attention.
• Use of Arabic expressions and particles like "Oh!"
• Frequent

Biographical Aspects

Rosalía de Castro (Santiago, 1837 – 1885), daughter of María Teresa de Castro and José Martínez Viojo, faced early challenges. A law prohibited the son of a priest from living with either parent, so young Rosalía spent her early years with an aunt in Ortoño. She lived in rural areas, which Rosalía soon reflected in her poems.

At 15 years old, she worked in Santiago, where she lived with her mother. There, she met Eduardo Pondal and Aurelio Aguirre, participating in veiled literary and musical gatherings.

In 1856, she went to Madrid where she met Manuel Murguía. They married two years later and had 7 children, 2 of whom died very young. The couple's life was full of difficulties of every kind: labor, economic, and... Continue reading "Rosalía de Castro: Life, Works, and Enduring Legacy" »

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán: Satire and Symbolism

Valle-Inclán also authored the trilogy "Mardi Gras," composed of Los cuernos de Don Friolera (Don Friolera's Horns), Las galas del difunto (The Deceased's Finery), and La hija del Capitán (The Captain's Daughter). This series offers a satirical vision of deeply ingrained Spanish themes such as honor and philandering. Additionally, he created a series of five pieces under the common denomination of "Retablo de la avaricia, la lujuria y la muerte" (Altar of Greed, Lust, and Death).

Federico García Lorca: Poetic Drama and Social Commentary

Lorca's work is not only essentially poetic due to the abundant use of verse but also because of its compelling arguments and evocative language. His recurring... Continue reading "Spanish Literary Masters: Valle-Inclán and Federico García Lorca's Dramatic Legacy" »

Popular Narratives

Popular narratives are stories, often fictional, transmitted orally from generation to generation. They are brief and ingenious tales that often aim to entertain and convey a lesson.

Structure of Popular Narratives

• Narrative framework
• Initial event
• Actions
• Final location

Types of Popular Narratives

• Marvelous Stories: These stories feature fantastic and magical elements. Some of their characters are fairies, ogres, and witches.
• Anecdotes and Legends: These narratives are of an everyday nature.
• Myths: Myths present stories that mix the real and the imaginary. For example, a myth may involve a god and be protagonized by heroes.

Grammatical Elements

Determiners

Determiners are words that accompany nouns, specifying their gender and number.... Continue reading "Popular Narratives and Theater: Origins and Characteristics" »

Roman Entertainment Structures

Amphitheaters

Battles between gladiators and animals were held, as were naumachiae (simulated naval battles). They had an elliptical plan. In the center stood the arena, covered in sand, where the pit was located. The amphitheater in Pompeii is the most ancient. Other examples include those in Tarragona, Mérida, and Italica in Spain, and those in Arles and Nîmes in France. In Rome, the Flavian Amphitheater, known as the "Colosseum," is the most famous.

Circuses

Buildings for chariot races. They had a long and narrow plan, with the spina (central barrier) in the middle. The cavea (seating area) was theater-like, surrounding the arena. The most important was the Circus Maximus in Rome, built during the time of Caesar.... Continue reading "Ancient Roman Architecture and Engineering" »

Modernism in Spanish Poetry

The Influence of the Generation of '98

Modernist poets embraced the spirit of the Generation of '98, both thematically and stylistically. They explored national issues, the existential reality of Castile, and adopted a more reflective, analytical writing style.

Juan Ramón Jiménez

A key figure in Modernism and a significant innovator, Jiménez's poetic journey began with vibrant Modernism tinged with introspection. His early works, like Solitudes (1908), explored beauty and nature. He later transitioned to "pure poetry," stripping away sensory details and anecdote to create timeless, symbolic verse. Diary of a Newly Married Poet is a notable work from this period.

Antonio Machado

Machado, a progressive humanist, blended... Continue reading "Modernism and Generation of '27 in Spanish Poetry" »

The Middle Ages: A Historical Context

The Middle Ages began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD) and concluded with the occupation of Constantinople by the Turks (1453 AD), spanning almost ten centuries. The High Middle Ages, between the 5th and 12th centuries AD, witnessed the formation of the Romance languages. The birth of new languages entailed the appearance of relevant literature, which was only orally transmitted during its initial period, becoming written from the 12th century onwards. During the Late Middle Ages (12th to 15th centuries), Romance languages gained ground and slowly replaced Latin as languages suitable for culture.

Medieval Lyric Poetry

During the Middle Ages, lyric poetry, expressing personal feelings and... Continue reading "Medieval Lyric Poetry: Troubadours, Genres, and Key Figures" »

Characteristics of Romanticism

• Rupture with Neoclassicism: Romanticism represents a break from Neoclassical rules, emphasizing a desire for freedom.
• Evocative Settings: Its settings often feature nocturnal scenes, the irrational power of nature (sea, storms), ruins, forests, and cemeteries, emphasizing mystery and emotion over reason.
• New Concept of the Individual: It introduced a new conception of the individual, often portrayed in confrontation with society, sometimes leading to tragic ends like suicide.
• Search for a New Reality: Romantics sought a reality perceived as more beautiful, dignified, and poetic, accessed through imagination.

Romantic Themes

• Key themes include: individuality and privacy, freedom, rebellion, and the significance of landscape,

20th Century Latin American Novels

Modernism in Latin American novels of the twentieth century evolved from the beginning of the century, with various currents that approached the American experience. Notable works include Don Segundo Sombra by Ricardo Güiraldes and Doña Bárbara by Rómulo Gallegos.

The Social Novel

The social novel depicts social conflict within Latin American countries, particularly highlighting the Mexican Revolution.

The Indianist Social Novel

The Indianist social novel focuses on the problems of indigenous peoples and mestizos, who constituted the majority of the population in some areas and suffered oppression and exploitation. An example is Huasipungo by Jorge Icaza, characterized by its realistic and naturalistic style.... Continue reading "20th Century Latin American Novels: Modernism and Magic Realism" »

St. John of the Cross

A Carmelite friar who, along with St. Teresa of Ávila (Teresa of Jesus), participated in the reform of the Carmelite Order. He studied in Salamanca.

His poetry often follows the line of Garcilaso. He wrote notes comparing the mystical vision and experience of God to the union of two lovers, which makes his work highly allegorical. His three major works include:

• Dark Night of the Soul
• Spiritual Canticle
• Living Flame of Love

Asceticism and Mysticism

Asceticism involves a lifestyle based on the rejection of material goods, characterized by simplicity, humility, and the absence of luxuries.

For the ascetic, self-sacrifice is the first step towards mysticism, whose aim is the union of the soul with God through three ways (or stages)... Continue reading "Spanish Renaissance & Baroque Poets: Key Figures & Styles" »