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

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 This separation is now considered outdated, and both Modernism and the Generation of '98 (G98) are seen as two aspects of the movement of literary and poetic renewal of the early 20th century.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

Medieval Spanish Prose

Prose Development in the Middle Ages

Latin was initially favored for written expression. However, Castilian steadily gained recognition for literary and scholarly works. Alfonso X and Don Juan Manuel in the 14th century solidified Castilian's role as a versatile language for diverse content.

The Prose of Alfonso X the Wise (13th Century)

Amidst the Reconquista, Alfonso X, though sometimes criticized for his limited military involvement, is recognized for his cultural contributions. He championed the arts and sciences, notably translating and adapting Arabic and Hebrew works. One of Alfonso X's key achievements was establishing Castilian as the official language and fostering the Toledo School of Translators. This ensured... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Prose: From Alfonso X to Don Juan Manuel" »

Spanish Renaissance Lyric Poetry: Forms and Themes

Formal Aspects of Renaissance Lyric

• Poetic Forms: Hendecasyllable, Tercets (chained), Lira (lyre stanza), Ottava Rima, Sonnet, Sapphic Stanza.
• Style and Resources: Emphasis on simplicity and naturalness, rich use of adjectives, epithets, metaphors, and hyperbaton.

Key Topics in Renaissance Lyric

• Imitation of classical authors like Virgil and Horace.
• Courtly love and reasons for pain.
• Beauty canon responding to the Renaissance woman ideal.
• Latin topoi: Carpe Diem (seize the day), Beatus Ille (blessed is he), Locus Amoenus (pleasant place).
• Introspection and spiritual reflection.

Garcilaso de la Vega: Pioneer of Spanish Lyric

Major Works and Influence

Garcilaso's Petrarchan lyrical poetry, particularly his... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age Literature: Authors, Forms, and Masterpieces" »

Baroque Poetry: Themes and Innovations

Baroque poetry presents a variety of themes and issues, with innovations and an intensification of Renaissance expressive resources.

Topics and Trends

• Romantic Poetry: Retrieves the Petrarchan model (description of female beauty, frustrated love, mythology).
• Philosophical and Moral Poetry: Addresses disappointment, the brevity and transience of life, the concept of death, the censure of vices, and the pursuit of virtue.
• Religious Poetry: Includes spiritual reflection, repentance, and commemorative poetry.
• Burlesque Poetry: Abounds in parody and humor, even ridicule and personal attacks.

Formal Aspects

• Metrical: Poems and verses less Italianate.
• Style: Elaborate poetic language, extreme acuity, the concept (metaphor,