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

The Lyric

The concept of lyric poetry differs significantly between the classical world (Greek and Roman times) and the modern world, especially after the Romantic period. For the Greeks, *lyric* was a technical term that designated a type of poetry characterized by:

• Being written in a variety of verses and stanzas.
• Being sung with the musical accompaniment of the lyre or similar stringed instruments.

In Latin poetry, the element of singing and musical accompaniment was eliminated. Lyric poetry was then defined as poetry written in the same meters and stanzas as Greek lyric poetry. Therefore, in Latin, only certain poems and odes of Catullus and Horace, along with the *Carmen Saeculare*, can be considered truly lyrical.

Catullus

Catullus was born... Continue reading "Classical Lyric Poetry: Catullus, Horace, and Ovid" »

The Novel of the Forties

We can distinguish different tendencies in the narrative of these years:

Traditional Realist Novel

It is a literature that follows the traditional lines and does not contribute to building aesthetic guidelines, presenting some interesting works and authors such as Zunzunegui, Ignacio Agustí or Jose Maria Gironella, making a sort of classic novel, influenced by Azorin, Pio Baroja, Concha Espina, Bartholomew Suns...

Alarmist Realist Novel

It tells stories of cruel, in many cases of war setting. It has a harsh neo-realism, harsh language, expressive, reflecting miserable environments. These stories are violent and torn, offering a degrading view of life and man. This trend began with writers who extolled war as a victory,... Continue reading "Spanish Novels of the 1940s and 1950s: Trends and Authors" »

Odysseus' Adventures: A First-Person Account

My Journey After the Trojan War

I, Odysseus, stand before you in the court of King Alcinous, to recount my adventures since the end of the Trojan War. These tales have become popular, sung in many songs. They tell of the Cyclops Polyphemus, the enchantress Circe, who turns men into animals, and the Sirens with their misleading songs. Finally, in the thirteenth year, the narrative returns to a chronological order, and I reach Ithaca.

The Heroic Ideal in Homer's Epics

The human ideal in Homer's epics is characteristic of the aristocracy. The characters are heroes or noble kings, and their morale is competitive. The agonistic behavior of the individual is based on the recognition of their merits by others.... Continue reading "Odysseus' Adventures: A First-Person Account in Alcinous' Court" »

Early Life and Poetic Beginnings

Miguel Hernández and his poetry cannot be disentangled from the Spanish Civil War. While the war interrupted his natural development, it was crucial to his poetic and human growth. In his youth, his concerns were not primarily social or political. Works like Perito en Lunas show an exclusively literary preoccupation, and in El rayo que no cesa (The Lightning That Never Stops), the theme is love, not social issues.

The Spanish Civil War: A Turning Point

When Spain was plunged into the tragedy of the Civil War (1936-1939), Miguel Hernández acted, moved by loyalty to the Republic and his social class. He himself had left school at fifteen to become a shepherd for his father's flock. His commitment was also shaped... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Poetry, War, and Political Commitment" »

17th-Century Spanish Prose

Picaresque Novel

In the early 17th century, pessimistic literature emerged, reflecting social and satirical disappointment. Works like Guzmán de Alfarache (Mateo Alemán) and El Buscón (Francisco de Quevedo) showcase a moralistic shift. The rogue's role diminished, as seen in The Life of Squire Marcos of Obregón (Vicente Espinel) and La Pícara Justina.

Lucianesco Tales

Inspired by picaresque realism, Lucianesco tales incorporate magical elements and imaginative developments while maintaining a moral and critical worldview. Examples include Los Sueños (The Dreams) and El Diablo Cojuelo (The Devil on Two Sticks) by Quevedo and Luis Vélez de Guevara, respectively.

The Novella

These short stories, set in large cities,... Continue reading "17th-Century Spanish Literature: Picaresque to Religious Prose" »

Avant-Garde

In 1910 came the so-called avant-garde or "isms," which include: Creationism, of Hispanic origin, sought to create reality within the work itself, and Surrealism, of French origin, was intended to express emotions and subconscious thoughts.

The New Novel of the Century

Prominent authors include Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, and James Joyce.

Novecentismo

In the second decade of the twentieth century, there emerged a group known as the "Generation of '14," who were known for their intellectualism, their eagerness for Europe, and their search for pure art. The chief representative is Juan Ramón Jiménez, who wrote poetry.

Novecentista Novel

It is characterized by lyrical descriptive passages and the presence of essayistic elements. These works... Continue reading "Spanish and Latin American Literary Movements: 19th and 20th Centuries" »

Modernism and the Generation of '98 in Spanish Literature

Understanding Spanish Modernism

The late 19th and early 20th centuries in Spain witnessed the emergence of two significant literary and intellectual movements: Modernism and the Generation of '98. Modernism, in particular, sought a profound artistic renewal, standing in opposition to realism. This period coincided with Spain's significant loss of its last colonies, a severe blow that sparked discussions about national regeneration.

Definition and Origins of Modernism

Modernism is defined as a movement advocating for political, ideological, social, and religious renewal and change. It originated around 1880 in Hispanic America and arrived in Spain primarily through the influential work of... Continue reading "Key Eras in Spanish Literature: Modernism & The '98 Generation" »

Renaissance: New Ideas

• Appreciation of human beings: Anthropocentrism and individualism
• Critical spirit
• New force of classical culture
• New conception of the state: The Prince by Machiavelli
• New forms of social relations: Bourgeoisie (new values: wealth and economic power)
• Crisis of traditional morality

Restoration of Books - Poetry

• Italian influence
• Metric renewal: Hendecasyllables and seven syllables; lira, triplets, octavas reales, estancias or silvas
• New genres: Song, eclogue, epistle
• New topics: Love, nature, myths

First Half of the 16th Century: Garcilaso de la Vega

• Themes: Love, nature, mythology
• Works: Sonnets, songs, elegies, epistles, and 3 eclogues

Second Half of the 16th Century: Mystical Poetry

Fray Luis de Leon

• Themes: Rustic loneliness, desire

Naturalism

Naturalism was a drift of Realism in France during the last decades of the 19th century. Its creator was Émile Zola, who presented his theory in works such as The Experimental Novel and Evenings of Médan.

• Naturalists relied on observation and experimentation.
• Topics covered were related to marginalization in all its aspects.
• They were interested in miserable and sad environments, and characters were often marginalized (alcoholics, 'morons', etc.).
• Technically, the authors' documentation and naturalistic observation were proclaimed by Realism.
• The writer's attitude toward reality was to be impartial.
• The end of the novel was moral: the writer aimed to improve society.

Naturalistic Novel in Spain

From 1883, when Emilia Pardo Bazán published... Continue reading "Literary Trends in Late 19th Century Spain" »

Joaquim Ruyra: Life and Literary Contributions

Joaquim Ruyra was born in Girona on September 27, 1858, and died in Barcelona on May 15, 1939. He was a Catalan writer, considered one of the greatest storytellers of the modern 20th century. Heir to rural properties in Blanes, his father was a lawyer in Girona, where Ruyra studied at the seminary of St. Martin. After attending the Institut Street Force in 1873, he participated in the Carlist War.

A narrator and writer of the Art Nouveau era, Ruyra was recognized by J. F. He collaborated with several magazines. In 1919, he published The Stop, and in 1931, he published The Copla. The government commissioned him to write the biography of Ramon Turró.

Ruyra's Major Works

Poetry:

• The Land of Plenty, 1906
• Ventises-