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

Splendor of Fifteenth-Century Poetry

The fifteenth century is often called the Golden Age of Valencian literature. The cultural center of the Crown of Aragon was the city of Valencia, which surpassed Barcelona. Key literary developments included:

• Cultured Poetry (Ausias Marc and Joan Rois de Corella)
• Satirical Poetry (Jaime Roig): A satirical vein that criticizes the customs of the time.

Fifteenth-Century Poets

Ausias Marc

Ausias Marc was born in Valencia into a family of poets and knights. He took part in the expedition of Alfonso the Magnanimous (king). Approximately one hundred twenty-eight of his poems survive, including 'Songs of Love,' 'Songs of Death,' 'Moral Songs,' and 'Spiritual Song.'

His poetry departed from the poetic tradition of the... Continue reading "Fifteenth Century Valencian Poetry: A Literary Analysis" »

Latin Lyric Poetry

The Essence of Latin Verse

Latin lyric poetry shines as a prominent genre in Latin literature. Its language, filled with metrical accuracy, creates verses that flow with a captivating spontaneity, translating into well-crafted schemes.

From a content perspective, lyric poets empower their words with sincerity, warmth, vigor, and unsurpassed strength. Poetry becomes a testament to the passions of men, often expressing profound experiences and feelings with remarkable vitality.

Types of Lyric Poetry

The Greeks distinguished between monodic lyric (sung by an individual) and choral lyric (sung by a chorus). Latins focused primarily on the monodic form.

Within monodic lyric, the ancient Greeks further divided poetry into iambic, elegiac,... Continue reading "Latin Lyric Poetry: Exploring Horace and the Art of the Ode" »

Troubadour Poetry in Provence

Troubadour poetry emerged in the courts of Provence in the twelfth century, gaining prominence in the thirteenth century. These poems were composed and performed by troubadours, sometimes with the assistance of minstrels. The courts provided patronage to these poets, offering them sustenance in exchange for songs that praised women, describing their beauty and the prevailing customs of courtly love.

Ausias March, from Valencia, wrote in a style reminiscent of Dante Alighieri, emphasizing the beauty and spirituality of women. Francesco Petrarca composed songbooks, particularly sonnets, celebrating the beauty of Laura, his unattainable love.

Fifteenth-Century Castilian Lyric Poetry

This era saw the rise of the cancionero,... Continue reading "Troubadour Poetry and Renaissance Literature in Spain" »

Literary Genres

Lyric

These are verses, expressing feelings, and are texts marked by subjectivity.

Lyric Subgenres: Traditional

• Ode: Song of worship.
• Songs: Theme of love poem.
• Elegy: Expressing a feeling of pain.
• Eclogue: Poem featuring shepherds, idealized nature.
• Satire: Criticizing someone/something.
• Epistola: Letter in verse form.
• Epigram: Burlesque composition.

Lyric Subgenres: Popular

• Song: Oral transmission.
• Zejel: Arabic tradition.
• Villancico, Lyric Romance.

Dramatic

Characters that dialogue.

Dramatic Subgenres: Classical

• Tragedies: Work that presents serious themes, serious conflict, tragic ending.
• Comedy: Everyday topics mixed with humor, happy ending.
• Drama: Everyday characters/situations, happy ending, mixed genre.

Dramatic Subgenres: Important Minor

• Autos

Introduction: The Generation of '98 and Modernism

Traditionally, authors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries have been divided into two groups: Noventayochistas and Modernists. This separation is now considered outdated, and both Modernism and the Generation of '98 (G98) are seen as two aspects of the movement of literary and poetic renewal of the early 20th century. The G98 denomination was applied by José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín) to a number of authors including Pío Baroja, Miguel de Unamuno, Ramiro de Maeztu, Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, Antonio Machado, and ultimately himself. The Generation of '98 is now understood to be part of Modernism, which was a more complex and rich movement.

In 1898, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines,... Continue reading "Spanish Literary Renewal: Generation of '98 and Antonio Machado" »

Medieval Period (476-1492)

The Medieval Period, extending from 476 to 1492, was marked by the Arab presence (711-1492) and diverse religious influences.

Features of Medieval Literature

• Oral Transmission: Transmitting stories through singing or recitation.
• Anonymity: Most works were anonymous.
• Didacticism: Literature often had a didactic function.

Traditional Lyric Poetry

Early medieval lyrical manifestations included ditties sung by people on holidays.

The Jarchas

Written in Mozarabic (11th century), these were brief lyrical compositions of 2-4 verses. Arab and Jewish poets of the peninsula included them at the end of poems written in Hebrew or Arabic. The theme was often a woman's lament to her lover.

The Cantigas de Amigo

Galician-Portuguese poets (... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Literature: Characteristics, Works, and Authors" »

The Generation of 98

The Generation of 98 refers to the year of disaster for the loss of the last colonies (Cuba and the Philippines). The style is sober and expressive, while the baths are a concern for Spain, with sensitivity and emotion against the landscape.

Antonio Machado

Solitudes, Galleries and Other Poems (themes: time, man, love, death, and God), Campos de Castilla (land of Soria), New Songs (proverbs and songs). During the civil war: Death of the Wounded Child, The Crime Was in Granada (death of Garcia Lorca), Madrid, Madrid!, How Well Your Name Sounds!

Miguel de Unamuno (Essayist)

Poetry

Lyrical sonnets, Rosario, El Cristo de Velazquez, From Fuerteventura to Paris, ballads and songs of exile (poetic).

Novels

Fog, Love and Pedagogy, Peace

Generation of '27: A Poetic Fusion

Balancing Tradition and Innovation

The Generation of '27 achieved a unique equilibrium, blending avant-garde experimentation with established traditions. This fusion encompassed:

• Traditional and popular lyricism
• Classical influences, reflected in the pursuit of formal perfection
• Romantic influences, apparent in the immediacy of emotion
• Influence of Juan Ramón Jiménez's pure poetry
• Elements of avant-garde movements

Key figures who influenced this generation include Juan Ramón Jiménez, José Ortega y Gasset, and Ramón Gómez de la Serna. Stylistically, their poetic creation often involved associating poetry with unconventional subjects, exploring a diverse range of themes, both traditional and modern.

Key Poets

Western Varieties

Morphological Features

• -s plurals.
• 1st person singular present indicative ending in -es or no ending.
• Present tense of inchoative verbs ending in -ix.
• Present subjunctive of inchoative verbs ending in -isca.

Phonetic Features

• Pronounced differentiation between unstressed e, a, and i.
• Pronounced differentiation between unstressed o and u.

Specific Lexicon

• Mirror
• Boy
• Red
• Depart
• Farmer
• Lamb

Oriental Varieties

Morphological Traits

• -s plurals.
• 1st person singular present indicative ending in -o or no ending.
• Present tense of inchoative verbs ending in -eix.

Phonetic Features

• No distinction between unstressed e, a, and i.
• No differentiation between unstressed o and u.

Specific Lexicon

• Mirror
• Boy
• Red
• Out
• Pages
• Lamb

Geographic Distribution of Oriental Varieties

• Roussillon
• Central

The Generation of '27: A Literary Movement

The Generation of '27 was a prominent group of Spanish poets and writers who emerged in the 1920s. The group's name commemorates the tercentenary of the death of Baroque poet Luis de Góngora, an event that led to the publication of his works and the organization of cultural events, fostering a shared identity among these young artists.

Key Poets of the Generation of '27

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

Defining Features of the Group

• A blend of tradition and avant-garde styles.
• Strong influence from classical poets, particularly Luis de Góngora.
• Embrace of pure poetry, emphasizing aesthetic