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

The Religious Lyric: Fray Luis, San Juan, and Santa Teresa

Two Schools of Thought

School of Salamanca: Focused on religious, moral, and philosophical issues, with a clear and simple style. Content is prioritized over form. Fray Luis de Leon is its primary representative.

Seville School: Characterized by a rhetorical style full of literary devices. Form is prioritized over content. The chief representative is Fernando de Herrera, who was in love with Leonor de Milan (platonic). Juan de Mal Lara influenced Fernando de Herrera.

Fray Luis de Leon

Fray Luis de Leon was closely linked to Salamanca, where he taught at the University. In his poems, he learned to synthesize the essence of the Christian Renaissance. His poetry is not extensive. The central... Continue reading "Religious Lyric Poetry: Fray Luis, San Juan, Santa Teresa" »

Critics lack a clear definition for the concepts of "Boom" and "Post-Boom" in Latin American literature. For some authors, the "Boom" signifies serious postmodernism. This identification is justified because both Euro-American modernist literature and the Latin American Boom exhibit a common rejection of traditional realistic style.

The most important feature of the Post-Boom is its return to storytelling and narrative. However, the relationship between these two pairs of terms (Boom/Post-Boom and Modern/Postmodern) is not identical: the term "postmodern" refers specifically to a particular genre—the literary narrative—and a region, particularly Latin America.

Most critics admit no clear dates or precise limits for these movements. One can... Continue reading "Latin American Narrative: Boom, Post-Boom, and The House of the Spirits" »

Roman Monarchy and the 509 BC Transition to Republic

Foundation of Rome (753 BC)

In the 8th century BC, Rome began as a farming community on the seven hills by the Tiber River. It evolved under Etruscan and Greek influence but was not initially a unified state. Rome was formally founded on April 21, 753 BC, uniting Latin and Sabine communities under Etruscan dominance, with the legendary King Romulus. This foundation was a deliberate political act, establishing the Populus Romanus Quirites (the body of Roman citizens).

Structure of the Roman Monarchy

The King (Rex)

Under the monarchy, the king (rex) reigned with the perceived approval of the gods. He served as the supreme leader, warrior, priest, and judge. The basis of his reign was authority and... Continue reading "Roman Monarchy to Republic: The 509 BC Patrician Shift" »

Catalan Literary Giants of the 15th Century

Joanot Martorell and Tirant lo Blanc

Joanot Martorell was born in Valencia in 1410 into a prosperous family that fell into disgrace after his father's death in 1435. Joanot was then declared the heir and had to cope with these debts for the rest of his life. He wrote Tirant lo Blanc in Barcelona between 1460 and 1464 and died in 1465. His experience as a knight, soldier, courtier, and diplomat marked the drafting of the novel, which demonstrates a knowledge of human relations and real military life.

The first printed edition of Tirant lo Blanc is dated 1490 in Valencia, 25 years after Martorell's death. It is considered one of the first great modern novels. The work is longer and more complex than Curial

Authority vs. Desire for Freedom

The central theme of the play is the clash between authority, represented by Bernarda, and the desire for freedom, embodied by Maria Josefa and Adela. Beneath this lies the exploration of human relations and the social conflict they generate. Bernarda, as the head of the family, attempts to enforce her strict standards, while Adela, her daughter, and Maria Josefa, her mother, try to rebel against them.

Sensual Love and Pursuit of Men

Bernarda prevents men from approaching her daughters, deeming them unsuitable for their class. The emergence of Pepe el Romano ignites the passions of these women who long to marry to escape their mother's tyranny. Martirio desires Pepe, Angustias is to marry him, and Adela maintains... Continue reading "Themes in Bernarda Alba's House" »

Modernism: A Will for Change

In the late nineteenth century, dissatisfaction arose among young people. That desire for change presented two options: Modernism or the Generation of '98.

French Influences

• Parnassianism

  The name comes from the title of an anthology published by a diverse group of poets. These authors advocated the concept of "art for art's sake."

• Symbolism

  It sought to reflect feelings and emotions.

• Impressionism

  In literature, the style presents terms of commonality through a succession of isolated observations.

Modernism: Primacy of Beauty

• The Lexicon

  Employs types of words that bring beauty and strangeness.

• The Metric

  Renews traditional forms; unusual lines are used.

• The Style

  It is clear in newspaper articles and novels.

• Scenarios

  They are

Lyric Genre

The lyric genre is characterized by the subjective attitude of the issuer; it expresses personal feelings. It may occur in verse or prose, although its most frequent manifestation is in poetry (verse).

• Satire: A lyrical composition, in verse or prose, that censors individual or collective vices.
• Eclogue: A poetic composition of love feelings and exaltation of nature, placed in the mouths of shepherds.
• Elegy: A poetic composition expressing feelings of grief at individual or collective misfortune.
• Sonnet: A composition consisting of two quartets and two triplets with rhyme and verse, generically heroic verse.
• Song: Expresses emotions, usually of the lovely type.
• Lyrical Romance: A poem composed of an indefinite number of eight-syllable

Pío Baroja's The Tree of Knowledge (1911)

The Tree of Knowledge (published in 1911), a dialogical, philosophical, and autobiographical novel, reflects the deep concerns of Pío Baroja. These concerns are projected onto Andrés Hurtado, a character lost in an absurd world who accumulates disappointments in his family, among his friends, and in the circles he frequents, until the novel's tragic end.

The Reflection of Spanish Reality and Social Critique

The author attempts to reflect the Spanish reality of the time, starting with the cultural poverty (reflected during his student life and in the social gatherings he frequents). The novel also carries a significant social critique, showing various social ills and miseries, particularly the rural/... Continue reading "The Existential Pessimism of Baroja's The Tree of Knowledge" »

Juan Ramon Jimenez: A Journey Through Poetic Evolution

"Pure poetry rejects the narrative, personal, and circumstantial, and finds the essence of reality through the idea of the naked word." - Juan Ramon Jimenez (VRBS pks)

Jimenez utilizes a simple syntax with short, often truncated, exclamatory, and interrogative sentences.

Sensitive Stage 1 (Until 1916)

This stage includes the writing of his most important books, such as Jardines Lejanos (1904), Elegias (1908), and Baladas de Primavera (1910). Also included in this stage is Platero y yo (1914), and Estio (1915). During this period, Jimenez embraces Modernist sounds, as seen in Sonetos Espirituales (1915). Typical themes of Modernism, such as beauty and love, are treated personally. The tone is... Continue reading "Juan Ramon Jimenez & Ramon Gomez de la Serna: Spanish Literature" »

Mester de Clerecía

Traditionally, medieval poetry of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries was divided into two blocks:

• Mester de Clerecía: Works by educated poets, cultivated sources, regular verse, and a university poetic school.
• Mester de Juglaría: Works by popular authors, intuitive inspiration, irregular verse, and anonymous authors.

The cuaderna vía was used to express during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Its features are:

• Unoriginal themes, religious or mythical, but sometimes with a lyrical purpose.
• Moral and didactic purpose.
• Metric: Cuaderna vía is used (four Alexandrine verses in consonant rhyme: 14A, 14A, 14A, 14A).
• Oral transmission or reading aloud.
• Cultivated and careful language.

Authors

• 13th Century: Gonzalo de Berceo,