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

Jacinto Verdaguer: Catalan Renaissance Poet

Jacinto Verdaguer (Folgueroles, 17 May 1845 - Vallvidrera, 10 June 1902) is one of the greatest poets in Catalan literature and the foremost exponent of the Catalan Renaissance. Bishop Torras i Bages called him the Prince of Poets. He was also known as Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, reflecting his status as a priest.

Ausiàs March: Valencian Golden Age Poet

Ausiàs March (Gandia, Safor, 1400 - Valencia, March 3, 1459) was a medieval Valencian poet and knight. Born into a family of minor nobility with poetic interests, he became one of the most important poets of the Valencian Golden Age and Catalan literature.

Guillem de Berguedà: Prolific Troubadour

Guillem de Berguedà is the troubadour from whom more texts... Continue reading "Catalan Literary Titans: Poets and Writers" »

Literary Devices: Hyperbaton and Epithet

Understanding Hyperbaton

Hyperbaton is a figure of speech that dramatically alters the logical order of words in a sentence. In the Castilian language, phrases are often constructed in ways that allow for such alterations, emphasizing certain elements or creating a specific rhythm.

Defining Epithet

An epithet (from Greek epithetos, 'added' or 'aggregate') is an adjective or participle that highlights an intrinsic characteristic of a noun. Examples include:

• "cold" in "cold snow"
• "heat" from "hot fire"
• "moisture" in "wet water"

Epithets frequently accompany names of deities, kings, and historical figures, such as:

• Athena "Parthenos" (Athena "the Virgin")
• Alexander "the Great"
• Alfonso X "el Sabio" (Alfonso X "the

Roman Literature: Origins and Development

Greek Influence

Latin literature developed under the impetus and continuing influence of Greek literature. The first works were inspired directly by Greek models. Roman authors followed the guidelines defined by already established Greek literary genres, both prose and verse. In some cases, they even aimed to match and exceed their Greek models. They also created a genre of their own, such as satire.

Characteristics

The importance of agriculture in Roman culture is reflected in poems that highlight ancestral virtues such as honesty, industriousness, and a harmonious relationship with nature. Patriotism and the praise of Rome's greatness are dominant themes throughout Roman literature. Criticism of customs... Continue reading "Roman Literature: Origins, Characteristics, and Key Genres" »

Literature Since the Civil War

During the Civil War, an ideological propaganda literature dominated, in which literary quality was not the priority. Since the Civil War, literary evolution has been linked to a series of political and social transformations.

Key stages:

• Postwar Literature (1940s): Two orientations emerged: 1) Exaltation of the dominant ideas, and 2) Anxious reflection.
• Social Literature (1950s): Acceptance by international institutions and Spain's favored position fostered a certain ideological opening.
• Formal Renewal (1960s): Economic development brought about a change in customs and allowed the entry of foreign literary influences.
• Latest Trends (Since 1975): Authors began to speak freely, and different orientations emerged.

Miguel

Miguel Hernández: Social and Political Engagement in Poetry

Early Period: Conformity and Religious Themes

In his initial stage, Miguel Hernández considered work and dedication as a means to reach God. In his first play, he condemned the religious revolutionary acts of peasants and the political demands of anarchists, communists, and trade unions. Therefore, this was a conformist, reactionary period. Miguel Hernández truly considered the common people, unlike the rest of the poets of the Group of 27 who never truly engaged in the people's problems. This position stemmed from the Generation of '98, who did not know how to understand and solve the social and political problems that beset them.

Shift Towards Social Commitment

However, Hernández... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Social and Political Evolution in Poetry" »

Post-Spanish Civil War Novel

1. Novelists of Exile

The Spanish Civil War led to the exile of numerous writers, shaping a literary landscape marked by displacement. Three common aspects emerge in their works:

• The memory of war and Spain.
• Experiences of new places and adapting to life abroad.
• Reflections on human nature and existence.

Among the most renowned exiled writers:

• Ramón José Sender: Known for his realistic and social approach, his works often explored the themes of Spain and the Civil War, notably in Crónica del alba (Chronicle of Dawn).
• Rosa Chacel: Her writing is characterized by meticulous aesthetic care, exemplified in Distrito de maravilla (District of Wonder).
• Max Aub: Focused on the human condition, his stories maintain a traditional

Virgil's Aeneid: The Foundation of Roman Epic

The Aeneid is a monumental poem structured into 12 books (songs) and nearly ten thousand verses. It is based on the destruction of Troy by the Greeks and the subsequent journey of Aeneas, leader of the Trojans, to Italy, where he founded a new homeland.

Literary Inspiration and Structure

Virgil's Aeneid is heavily inspired by Homer's Odyssey and the Iliad. The work is generally divided into two major parts:

• Part I (Books 1–6): Narrates Aeneas's navigation and travels from Troy to Sicily.
• Part II (Books 7–12): Details the subsequent struggles with the indigenous peoples of Italy to secure the new homeland.

The Journey of Aeneas: Key Plot Points

The work does not follow a chronological order, beginning... Continue reading "Virgil's Aeneid: Plot Summary, Structure, and Context" »

Life is a Dream

This is one of the fundamental works of Calderón de la Barca. It raises the conflict between free will and predestination of human beings.

Basilio, King of Poland, locks his son Sigismund in a tower to prevent an omen: Sigismund's rebellion against his father. But, troubled by this situation, he decides to test his son. He brings him to the palace and makes him believe, upon waking, that he is a king. Sigismund, who has not received the education befitting his status as prince and has never been free, behaves cruelly. This attitude confirms the King's predictions about his child, and therefore, he decides to lock him back in the tower. On waking, Sigismund cannot distinguish whether what he has experienced was a dream or reality.... Continue reading "Calderón de la Barca & Lope de Vega: Spanish Golden Age Drama" »

Medieval Literature

The language of scholars in the early Middle Ages was Latin, but oral communication and Romance languages were also performed.

Most previous Castilian literary texts in the thirteenth century have their origin in folk literature and oral tradition. In this century, cultured authors stopped using Latin in their literary works and began to write in different vernaculars.

Thus, Spanish literature slowly began to develop. Its features are:

• The transmission of many texts was done orally. This means that many works are anonymous and reflect well the sense of community and the popular and traditional character. This tends to lead to a sober, spontaneous, and often very expressive literary language.
• Many works show a marked realism,