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

Fray Luis de León: Life and Works

Fray Luis de León wrote coinciding with the rise of spiritual literature in the second half of the sixteenth century.

Original Poetic Works

His collection includes 23 original poems, most in lira form, published in 1631 by Quevedo. These are primarily moral poems, with the exception of some religious pieces. His sources include the poetry of Horace and Virgil, and biblical texts. He shows the influence of Neoplatonic and Stoic philosophy, which proposed overcoming passions to achieve peace and serenity.

Through self-knowledge, peace can be achieved, embracing the vivire secum (living with oneself) theme and leading a secluded existence. These themes are expressed in his poetry through the beatus ille and locus

Origins of the Narrative

Fernando III establishes Latin and Castilian as languages of rule. During the 13th century, collections of stories or enxiemplos emerged, intended to provide religious material.

Kalila and Dimna

A collection of tales of Indian origin, emphasizing morality based on sagacity, cunning, and emotional mastery.

Sendebar

A collection of Indian fables focusing on love, women, and greed.

Alfonso X, son of Ferdinand III, promoted Castilian as a unifying language between Christians, Jews, and Arabs. He aimed to document everything of political, social, economic, and scientific importance.

Themes

His work covers a wide variety of themes:

Rights

He endowed the people with clear and reasonable rules of law based on Roman law and contemporary... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Narrative: Origins, Themes, and Styles" »

The Generation of '27

The birth of these poets on nearby dates, their companionship and professed friendship, and the influence and cultural exchanges among them, particularly influenced by Damaso Alonso, led to the expression of the Generation of '27. The date refers to the commemoration of the third anniversary of the death of Góngora and a ceremony in Seville. Important journals published significant books. Among the leading poets of the group are Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, García Lorca, Alberti, and Cernuda.

1.1. Vanguardism

Between the two world wars in Europe, avant-garde movements emerged. The most important current was Surrealism. Surrealism delves beyond reality and logic, aiming to release repressed impulses and express the depths... Continue reading "The Spanish Generation of '27: Key Poets and Themes" »

Chronicle of a Death Foretold: Context and Analysis

Chronicle of a Death Foretold, written by Gabriel García Márquez in 1928 in Aracataca, Colombia, is a key work of the Latin American "boom" of the 1960s. Key characteristics include the power of the subconscious and magical realism, exemplified by Santiago Nasar's prophetic dreams. The inevitability of death is a central theme, foreshadowed in the title.

Literary Genre Characteristics

Narrator

The narrative offers a multidimensional perspective. An omniscient narrator initially recounts the events. Later, a character (referred to as CHARACTER X) narrates from their viewpoint. The narrator eventually abandons omniscience, becoming a character within the story, using first-person pronouns.

Time

The... Continue reading "Chronicle of a Death Foretold: Analysis and Literary Elements" »

Roman Priesthoods: Keepers of Sacred Traditions

In ancient Rome, priests were very numerous and clustered in colleges. Some were more important than others, and this hierarchy reflected to some extent the organization of their own gods.

The Flamines: Devoted to Specific Deities

The Flamines were priests consecrated to the worship of a particular god. The three major Flamines dealt with Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus. There were also fifteen minor Flamines who took care of other gods and attended sacrifices. The main priest was the Flamen Dialis, dedicated to Jupiter.

The Flamen Dialis: Jupiter's High Priest

The Flamen Dialis had to be a patrician and was required to observe a strict set of rules and taboos in his daily life and clothing. For example,... Continue reading "Ancient Roman Priesthoods: Roles and Rituals" »

Roman Magistrates: Roles and Powers

Qualifications for Roman Magistracies

The primary condition for access to a Roman magistracy was to be a Roman citizen. It was also necessary to possess a considerable fortune, demonstrate minimal experience in managing public affairs, and have no cause for unworthiness. Each magistrate had at least one colleague, and each could veto the decisions of another, ensuring no one held absolute power.

Structure of Roman Magistracies

Roman magistrates were divided into two main categories: ordinary and extraordinary.

Ordinary Roman Magistrates

The ordinary magistrates included Quaestors, Aediles, Praetors, Consuls, Censors, and Tribunes of the People. Most of these roles were part of the cursus honorum, a sequential order... Continue reading "Roman Magistrates: Structure, Roles, and Powers" »

Garcilaso de la Vega

Garcilaso de la Vega embodies the model of the Renaissance man. Of noble origin, he was a poet-soldier whose life was marked by Emperor Charles V. He met Isabel Freyre, who inspiró many of his love poems. His interest in education was that of a humanist: he knew Greek and Latin, and had read Italian Renaissance poets. He died at 36 years old.

Works

His brief but significant work highlights his sonnets and three Eclogues:

• Égloga I: The most valued, where the shepherds Salicio and Nemoroso express their complaints in a gentle, bucolic natural setting. Salicio laments the disdain of his lady Galatea, while Nemoroso mourns Elisa. Both shepherds represent Garcilaso himself, singing to his beloved in life and after death.
• Égloga

Synopsis

The book deals with historical facts, but transformed: the aggressors, Basques, become Saracen Muslims, which allows for issuing a crusade and triggering events based on the betrayal of Ganelon. Roland is the nephew of Emperor Charlemagne and has a close friend, Oliveros, a non-historical character.

After seven years of Crusade, Emperor Charlemagne conquered Spain from the Moors. Only Zaragoza, city of King Marsilio, resists. The Franks are suspicious about peace proposals. Roland proposes his stepfather, Ganelon, as ambassador. Ganelon believes that Roland intends to send him to his death and decides to get revenge. As ambassador, he prepares treason against Roland, stirring the Moors, who are responsible for the harassment they are... Continue reading "The Song of Roland: Summary, Characters, and Legacy" »

Who Was Christopher Columbus?

The identity of Christopher Columbus remains debated today. Most historians place his birth in Genoa, Italy, with the date ranging from 1430 to the commonly accepted year of 1451.

Origins and Early Life

After surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Portugal, he established himself there.

The Idea of Sailing West

It is difficult to know precisely when Columbus conceived the idea of reaching Cipango (present-day Japan) by sailing west, but it was likely around 1481. It is probable that he knew the works of the Florentine mathematician Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli and his theory of reaching the Indies by sailing west. Columbus, influenced by these ideas, estimated the distance would not exceed 2,500 miles. Another influential... Continue reading "Christopher Columbus: Life, Voyages, and Legacy" »

16th Century Spanish Poetry: Themes and Forms

The 16th century marked a significant period for Spanish poetry. Traditional and lyrical ballads, while often oral, were also widely disseminated through common songbooks. A key date in this era is 1543, which saw the introduction of new poetic genres and themes. These included classical motifs such as:

• Carpe diem (Seize the day)
• Collige, virgo, rosas (Gather, maiden, the roses)
• The Golden Mean
• Beatus ille (Blessed is he)

Mythology also played a prominent role. The predominant theme was love, influenced by philosophy and often detached from purely carnal appetites. Love was depicted as a force that could improve individuals, but also as a source of pain and frustration for the unrequited lover. Common... Continue reading "Spanish Renaissance Literature: Poets, Prose, and Enduring Themes" »