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The 17th Century: The Golden Age of Spanish Theater

Throughout the seventeenth century, despite the Inquisition, writers were active in all literary genres. However, the seventeenth century was definitively the century of theater.

The Popularity of Baroque Theater

During this century, the public demanded large quantities of plays for entertainment. Many of these works are lost because they were not typically printed or published, but a great quantity of works has been preserved. Because of this popularity, comedies were often performed in the backyards of tenements, adapted for these representations. This led to the proliferation of theater companies.

Defining the New Comedy: Characteristics

The theater of the seventeenth century introduced a series... Continue reading "Spanish Baroque Theater: Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca" »

Luis Cernuda (1902-1963)

Born in Seville, Cernuda also lived in Madrid and Salinas. As a student, he strengthened his friendship with members of the Generation of '27. He supported the wartime Republic. In 1938, he exiled himself to Mexico and never returned. A personality characterized by a lonely and painful sensitivity, he was vulnerable. His homosexual condition may explain his disagreement with the world and his rebellion, which is reflected in his life and his work.

Themes

• Loneliness
• Longing for a habitable world
• Craving for perfect beauty
• Love, reflecting the influence of Romantic writers

Style

His poetic language emerges from a triple rejection: of rhythms that are too marked, of rhyme, and of language rich in bright images.

Work

The Reality

Jorge Manrique: The Coplas

Themes and Structure of the Work

• Reflection on Mortality: Focuses on the transience of life and the certainty of death. It revives the classical themes of tempus fugit (time flies) and memento mori (remember death).
• Nostalgic Evocation: An emotional remembrance of the past, emphasizing transience through rhetorical questions, notably the ubi sunt (where are they?) motif.
• The Figure of Don Rodrigo: The poem individualizes the theme around the figure of the poet's father, Don Rodrigo Manrique. He is presented as the ideal knight, embodying virtues, exploits, Christian resignation, and serenity in the face of death.

Style and Significance

Style

The style is simple and anti-rhetorical. The naturalness and clarity of the language... Continue reading "Late Medieval Spanish Literature: Manrique, Romances, and Celestina" »

Troubadour Poetry and Its Evolution

From the twelfth century, the emergence of troubadour poetry led to the earliest works of literary romance. While poetic texts were written in Catalan, the poetry itself was composed in Occitan or Provençal.

The central theme was courtly love, a concept representing the feudal system. Courtly love is an adulterous love where the poet falls for a married woman, whose name never appears explicitly.

Key Figures in Courtly Love Poetry

• The Lady: Called 'midons' (my lord) or 'senher' (lord).
• The Troubadour: The male poet in love.
• The Deceived Husband: Known as the 'gilós'.
• The Slanderers: Known as the 'lausengiers', who denounce the lovers.

With the emergence of the bourgeoisie, this lyricism transformed into a poetry

Neoclassicism: Origins and Principles

Neoclassicism marked a return to the Greco-Roman classical model, rejecting styles that deviated from it, such as Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque.

Key Characteristics of Neoclassical Thought

• Tendency to express a generic, universal model, rather than personal or national issues.
• Art and literature are subject to fixed rules.
• Educational purposes (moralistic sense).

While the novel and poetry evolved somewhat, the essay experienced exceptional growth during this period, as highlighted in the Poetics of Ignacio de Luzán.

Style and Transition: From Post-Baroque to Pre-Romanticism

In Europe and Spain, a new sensibility emerged, often mixed with Neoclassical elements. This Post-Baroque style, sometimes associated with... Continue reading "Neoclassicism and Enlightenment Prose in 18th Century Spain" »

Moral Reflection: The Poems of Jorge Manrique

His most representative work is the Coplas por la muerte de su padre (Stanzas on the Death of his Father).

Metrics

Manrique uses the so-called Manriqueña couplet (copla de pie quebrado), a stanza variety of 12 lines grouped into two sextets with a broken foot. The lines are octosyllabic (8 syllables), except for the 3rd and 6th lines of each sextet, which are tetrasyllabic (4 syllables). The rhyme scheme is typically abcabcdefdef.

Structure

The work is generally divided into three parts:

1. A doctrinal exposition of a philosophical nature, focusing on the destructive and relentless power of fortune, time, and death.
2. Reinforcement of the doctrinal exposition, citing examples of prominent figures from the

Ausiàs March: Life and Legacy of the Valencian Poet

Biography and Personal Life

Ausiàs March was born in Valencia. After participating in military conflicts, he settled in Gandia, where he led a passionate life. He married Isabel Martorell but was widowed within a year and later remarried. March died on 3 March 1459, leaving four illegitimate children.

The Poetic Legacy of Ausiàs March

The poet's enduring fame stems from a profound and complex poetic output. This poetry is characterized by several key elements:

• Introspection and the rigorous analysis of feelings.
• Philosophical reflection on human nature.
• A dedicated choice of language that pushes the boundaries of poetic expression to transmit a complex inner world.

March composed 128 songs, which... Continue reading "Ausiàs March: Life, Poetic Cycles, and Literary Legacy" »

Historical Context of Federico García Lorca

Federico García Lorca lived during the first third of the 20th century, a period preceding the Spanish Civil War. Spain in the twentieth century was a country in decline, facing serious internal problems. We can identify three distinct stages:

Spain at the Turn of the Century (1900–1923)

The crisis was marked by the War in Cuba and the Disaster of '98, which signaled the end of Spanish rule in America. This event did not change the alternation of power between the Liberal and Conservative parties under the monarchy of Alfonso XIII. While the oligarchy was enriched by exports, workers became poorer due to rising prices. This general tension culminated in the strike of 1917 and high tensions regarding... Continue reading "Federico García Lorca: Historical and Literary Context" »

Key Definitions in Classical and Early Christian Art

Sculpture and Techniques

Seated (Sculpture)

A sculpture depicting a figure in a sitting pose. Example: Moses by Michelangelo.

Recumbent Figure (Sculpture)

A sculpture depicting a figure in a lying or reclining posture. Example: Reclining Christ (El Pardo) by Gregorio Fernández.

Tempera (Painting Technique)

A painting technique where colors are obtained by mixing pigments with egg or animal fat (binder).

Zoomorphic

Meaning "animal-shaped" or having the form of an animal.

Roman Architecture and Public Buildings

Amphitheater

A Roman public building used for holding shows and games, such as gladiator fights, naval battles, dramatic representations, or fierce struggles. It presents a circular or oval shape,... Continue reading "Essential Glossary of Roman Architecture and Art Terms" »

Federico García Lorca: Life and Legacy

Federico García Lorca was born in Granada (Fuente Vaqueros) in 1898. In 1919, he settled in the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, where he met and interacted with renowned authors such as Juan Ramón Jiménez, as well as artists and poets of his generation.

Theatrical Works and Rural Tragedies

Lorca began his dramatic career very young with The Curse of the Butterfly, but his first major success came with Mariana Pineda (1925), a verse play influenced by the modernism of Eduardo Marquina. However, it was from 1930 until his death that Lorca dedicated himself primarily to theater. The following themes unify his work during this period:

• The myth of impossible desire.
• The opposition between reality and desire.