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

Narcís Oller (Barcelona, 1846–1930)

He is considered the creator of the modern Catalan novel. He began writing in Spanish, but his commitment to realism and contemporary social relations led him to adopt Catalan. Oller was the author who put naturalist techniques into practice.

Major Novels by Narcís Oller

The public and critical success encouraged him to continue developing realism and naturalism. The best of his six novels are:

• La Papallona (The Butterfly): Tonet, a poor orphan girl, is seduced and abandoned by a "butterfly" of a higher social class, but they finally get married. The plot is romantic, but the thorough descriptions place it between realism and naturalism.
• L'Escanyapobres (The Miser): The protagonist's passion for money brings

Baroque Theater: Features and Content

1) Works

Comedies

Local Poultry Comedies

• Attic
• Chambers
• Trap Door
• Scenario
• Yard Musketeers
• Stands
• Men Standing
• Casserole Women

2) Representation Details

Performance Schedule and Structure

• Start: At 2 or 3 PM (benefiting from increased hours of daylight).
• Duration: 4 or 5 hours.
• Order: Loa (representation), dance, 1st act, an appetizer, 2nd act, dance or appetizer, 3rd act, masquerade.
• Plays are performed once, and if successful, repeated all week.

3) Features

Structural and Stylistic Elements

• Division in 3 Acts: Representation, middle, and end.
• Predominance of Action: Building on the plot.
• Breaks the Rule of 3 Units (Classical Theater):
  • Unit of Time: Classical theater used 1 day; Baroque works develop at multiple sites, lasting

Roman Urban Planning: Grid System & City Layout

In their new towns, the Romans adopted a grid system. Its origin lay in the structure of a military camp, enabling rapid army movement in any direction. This rational structure functionally distributed space, allowing inhabitants to easily orient themselves and navigate the streets.

The city was structured around two main axes: the decumanus (east-west) and the cardo (north-south). From these two axes, the centuriation or division of parcels developed, with each city block typically containing 100 properties. At the intersection of both axes, the most representative public buildings were located: the forum (a large central square, serving as a meeting and recreation center), and surrounding... Continue reading "Roman Urbanism, Portraiture & Relief Art" »

The Literary Movement of Humanism

Humanism was a fourteenth-century literary movement that rejected Theocentrism, shifting focus toward the centralization of man. Man began to become the hub of all things. This movement originated in the fourteenth century and concluded in the middle of the fifteenth century, championing a revival of classical roots.

Characteristics of Literary Humanism

The characteristics of literary Humanism include the rejection of all theocentric or classicizing ideologies, focusing instead on the research of what is new and governed by man. This movement notably highlighted the Italian poet, Francesco Petrarch.

Ausiàs March: Style and Poetic Innovation

Language and Style

Ausiàs March is often considered the first poet to write... Continue reading "Ausiàs March: Catalan Poetry, Humanism, and the Philosophy of Love" »

Understanding Literature

Literature is an art form whose raw materials are the units of language, which the writer manipulates to produce an aesthetic and emotional effect on the receiver. The term often refers to the peculiar relationship literary fiction works have with reality.

Key Characteristics of Literary Language

Literary language is used in a deliberately aesthetic way, seeking to create impressions and emotions in the reader. Its primary features include:

• Providing enjoyment and entertainment.
• Facilitating the transmission of ideas.

According to Aristotle, literature is the imitation of reality. However, in literary fiction, the author is guided by reality to recreate a fictional world.

Core Concepts in Literature

Verisimilitude (Likelihood)

Imagery and Symbolism in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández

Images and symbols are fundamental tools that allow Miguel Hernández to express his deepest feelings. Throughout his work, we observe significant changes in the conception and use of these symbols, reflecting the distinct stages of his life and poetic development.

The Moon: From Setting to Self-Reflection

The central symbol in his early work, Perito en lunas (Expert in Moon), is the moon. Initially presented as a simple, pleasant scenario, the moon slowly gains a starring role, eventually becoming regarded as a reflection of the poet himself, embodying his feelings and emotions.

The Whistle and Lightning: Voice and Struggle

The whistle (or whisper) and lightning are key elements in his poetry,... Continue reading "The Evolving Imagery and Symbolism in Miguel Hernández's Poetry" »

The Evolution of Roman Oratory

Introduction to Public Speaking in Rome

Oratory, the art of public speaking, requires a political system that respects freedom of expression. During the Republic, therefore, the speech was held in high esteem. In contrast, under the Empire, freedom of speech was curtailed, and oratory lost its political importance, being taught only theoretically in the schools of rhetoric.

Republican Oratory: The Age of Cicero

With Cicero, oratory reached its highest elevation, both practically and theoretically. Living during the final years of the Republic, his abilities allowed him to reach the highest magistracies. He left us perfect speeches in which the Latin language displayed all its splendor and purity.

Cicero's Rhetorical

Miguel Hernandez: Social and Political Commitment

Miguel Hernandez was socially and politically committed in his life, his poetry, and his plays, but we will focus primarily on his poetry.

Hernandez's Theater of War

Regarding his dramatic work, although he wrote other works, Theater of War, written in prose, lacks dramatic entity and could be considered propaganda speeches and an invitation to fight.

Poetry Collections with Military Themes

In the poetry of Miguel Hernandez, his poetry collections include military themes: Wind of the People, Man Stalks, and, in some ways, Songbook and Ballads of Absences.

Commitment Beyond Verse

Miguel Hernandez's commitment goes beyond his verse; it is part of his life. His poems are a reflection of his life convictions.... Continue reading "Social and Political Themes in the Poetry of Miguel Hernandez" »

Features and Evolution of Latin Lyric Poetry

Latin lyric poetry began to gain relevance as a literary genre in the second century BC, coinciding with the decline of Theatre and Epic. It shows a clear influence from Greek poetry, especially the Alexandrian lyric poets.

This shift involved abandoning great epic poems and moving toward short compositions of an individual character, reflecting intense feelings (from love to hate) and focusing carefully on the world of small, everyday things.

There was a progression toward individualism, privacy, intimacy, and subjectivity, though this development did not mean the abandonment of the old metrical forms.

The Poetae Novi: Precursors to Elegy

The predecessors of the great elegiac lyric poets were the so-... Continue reading "Latin Lyric Poetry: Origins, Features, and the Rise of Roman Elegy" »

Understanding English Pronouns and Their Usage

A Noun Phrase (NP) typically has a noun as its core. Infinitives and pronouns can also serve as the core of a Noun Phrase.

What Are Pronouns?

Pronouns are words used to refer to entities already named by nouns or understood from context. They may constitute a Noun Phrase (NP) by themselves and function independently.

• Unlike nouns, pronouns often derive their specific meaning from the context, referring back to previously mentioned nouns or understood entities.

Personal Pronouns Explained

Personal pronouns are variable words used to designate the speaker, listener, or another entity, indicating grammatical person. Personal pronouns can function as subjects or complements in a sentence.

Stressed (Tonic)