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

Lyric Poetry: An Overview

Lyric poetry was originally sung to the accompaniment of the lyre. The term 'lyric' encompasses many different subjects and metric forms, but is characterized by a personal and subjective approach. Common forms include the ode or carmen. Early examples include anthem lyrics and the hymns of the Arval Brothers.

Catullus

The first lyric poets are found within the circle of Catullus, the 'new' or 'neoteric' poets. Their compositions are short, technically perfect, and formally and stylistically beautiful.

Catullus settled in Rome and became involved with Clodia, a beautiful woman who inspired a violent passion and bitter disappointment in Catullus. This relationship provided inspiration for his poetry, in which she appears... Continue reading "Lyric Poetry: Catullus, Horace, and Elegiac Poets" »

Neoclassical Poetry

Neoclassical poetry values neat verse and didacticism, avoiding excess or intimate deviation. Poems in this style often take the form of a fable, with a satirical intent, and a proper way to implement their ideal. Verses are correct and devoid of strong emotion.

Themes

Neoclassical poetry focuses on immediate reality and traditional themes, drawing inspiration from classic storytellers like Aesop, or modern ones.

Representative Authors

• Samaniego (Moral Fables): Addresses various issues and aspects of traditional morality (avarice, lies, etc.). His tone and language vary, but his poems are didactic, with an easy and smooth verse (e.g., *The Cicada and the Ant*, *The Flies*, *The Fox and the Bust*).
• Iriarte (Literary Fables): Pedagogical

Generation of '27: Key Figures and Their Impact

Understanding the Generation of '27

The Generation of '27 refers to a group of influential Spanish poets who rose to prominence in the 1920s. Although often referred to as a "generation," they are more accurately described as a group within a broader historical generation. They were connected through personal relationships, many of which were forged at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid.

Stylistic Characteristics

Stylistically, these poets balanced intellectualism and emotion, pure aesthetics and human authenticity, and the appeal to both niche and broad audiences. They were also deeply connected to the universal and the specifically Spanish. They were in tune with avant-garde movements, particularly... Continue reading "Spanish Poets of the Generation of '27: A Deep Dive" »

The action of Chronicle of a Death Foretold is developed in an atmosphere of coincidences, contradictions, and mistakes that enable tragedy. Only two points are clear and firm: the murder of Santiago Nasar and the belief of all the people in the validity of the code of honor. It is with these words that the villagers agree on a value, that of honor, which in view of his way alone could cause them to commit a tragedy. This is the central irony of the novel.

When on the same night of the wedding Bayardo San Roman returns the bride to her parents because she is not a virgin, in fact, this sentences someone to death, for it will implement the honor code in force in the village: honor is restored only with Nasar's death. Santiago had the misfortune... Continue reading "Chronicle of a Death Foretold: Inverted Values and Honor" »

Phonetics and Phonology

Phonetics

Phonetics is the linguistic discipline that deals with the nature of speech sounds, seen in their physical form (studying the sounds []).

Phonology

Phonology is the linguistic discipline that studies the mental or abstract sounds in the language (phonemes studies //). A phoneme is the minimal distinctive unit.

Vowel Phonemes

• Degrees of openness:
  • Open: /a/
  • Mid: /e/, /o/
  • Closed: /i/, /u/
• Position of the tongue:
  • Front: /e/, /i/
  • Central: /a/
  • Back: /o/, /u/

Consonant Phonemes

• Manner of articulation:
  • Occlusive: /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, /g/
  • Fricatives: /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʝ/, /x/
  • Affricate: /tʃ/
  • Nasal: /m/, /n/, /ɲ/
  • Lateral: /l/, /ʎ/
  • Vibrant: /ɾ/, /r/
• Place of articulation:
  • Bilabial: /b/, /p/, /m/
  • Interdental: /θ/
  • Labiodental: /f/
  • Dental:

The Golden Age of Spanish Literature

The period between approximately 1526 and 1681 marks the zenith of Spanish literature, a time when it reached unparalleled levels of aesthetic quality and influence. This era, often referred to as the Golden Age, encompassed both the Renaissance and Baroque movements, each leaving an indelible mark on literary expression.

Renaissance and Baroque Eras

• The Renaissance (14th-16th Centuries): Characterized by a renewed admiration for Greco-Roman antiquity and a focus on human potential.
• The Baroque (16th-17th Centuries): Distinguished by its complexity, ornate style, and often dramatic or melancholic themes, reflecting a period of profound change and introspection.

Prominent Authors and Their Masterpieces

The Golden... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age Literature: Renaissance to Baroque Masterpieces" »

Denotation and Connotation

Denotation refers to the objective meaning of a word, the literal definition found in dictionaries. It represents a shared understanding among speakers.

Connotation refers to the subjective meanings, whether positive or negative, added to a word by individuals or social groups, beyond its denotative meaning.

The Essay: Form and Purpose

The essay is a form of short prose where the author presents a personal and subjective vision on various subjects. Its primary purpose is didactic and interpretive.

Structure of an Essay

• Introduction: Presents the theoretical framework or thesis.
• Development: Contains personal opinions, digressions, and supporting arguments.
• Conclusion: Confirms the thesis, though it may not always be explicitly

Ancient Greece: A Civilization of Beauty and Harmony

Location: Greece is situated at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula.

Territory: The territory includes mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. Although technically a peninsula, the Isthmus of Corinth, which connects the Peloponnese to the mainland, is so narrow that it almost feels like an island. Greece also encompasses Crete, the Aegean Islands, and the coasts of Asia Minor.

Timeline: Greek civilization flourished from approximately 600 BC to 30 AD.

Key Characteristics: The most outstanding qualities of Greek art and architecture are the perfection of forms, balance, harmony, and proportion.

Greek Painting

Unfortunately, no original Greek paintings have survived. However, based on literary... Continue reading "Ancient Greece and Rome: Art, Architecture, and History" »

Joan Alcover's La Balanguera: Mallorca's Anthem

Symbolism and Significance

La Balanguera, a renowned poem by Joan Alcover, resonates with pre-modernist influences yet distinctly belongs to the Majorcan school. At its heart is the Balanguera, a famous mythological figure from Mallorca who symbolically weaves and unweaves the threads of human lives. Ancient and all-knowing, she cuts the thread when life ends. This poem is a profound song encompassing the past, present, and future of Mallorca. In recent years, it has become the island's official anthem.

Poetic Structure and Method

The poem is composed of five stanzas, each with six octosyllabic verses, featuring a two-verse octosyllabic refrain. The rhyme scheme is 8A/8B/8A/8B/8C/8C/8C/8C.

Josep Maria

Luis de Góngora

Luis de Góngora is the poet of the senses. He was not interested in delving into thought or emotional impact, or recreating the contents of an argument. Instead, he looked for a different aesthetic pleasure.

Characteristics of Góngora's Poetry

• Pictorial Consciousness: A sensory, descriptive poetry that speaks of the taste for a contemplative attitude and the creation of images.
• Landscape: Nature stands as the centerpiece of his work, describing landscapes, objects, animals, etc.
• Blend of High Culture and Popular: Góngora combined elements of high culture and popular culture.
• Satire and Panegyric: He cultivated two types of contradictory poems: satire, which outputs his most critical views, and praise of noble heroes.

Themes

Góngora... Continue reading "Luis de Góngora: Master of Sensory Poetry" »