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

The Castilian Language

Castilian Spanish is derived from Vulgar Latin. It expanded during the Reconquista and reached its peak in the 13th century. The Poem of the Cid is considered the first significant piece of literature in the language. During the reign of Alfonso X, known as the Wise, Castilian replaced Latin in official use. The 14th and 15th centuries saw the creation of notable works in Castilian, such as The Book of Good Love, the verses of Jorge Manrique, and La Celestina. At the end of the 15th century, it was brought to America by conquerors, and in 1492, the first Castilian grammar was published. In the 16th century, Castilian Spanish, then called simply Spanish, reached its golden age. In the 18th century, the Royal Spanish Academy... Continue reading "Spanish, Basque, Catalan, and Galician: A Linguistic Overview" »

Medieval Literature: Lyric Poetry

Traditional Lyric Poetry

Songs that people sing to accompany domestic work and other activities. The main topic is anonymous love. These compositions are transmitted orally.

Cultured Lyric Poetry

Refined lyric poetry composed by troubadours. The theme of courtly love in the south is exemplified by the jarchas (the earliest lyrical expressions). In the northwest, there's the Galician-Portuguese lyric (12th century). In the northeast, there are the cantigas de amigo, influenced by Provençal troubadour poetry. In the middle of the peninsula, the metrical form used is the villancico, where a traditional chorus is repeated with stanzas.

Lyric Poetry in the Fifteenth Century: Jorge Manrique

Jorge Manrique, born in 1440... Continue reading "Medieval Literature: Lyric and Narrative Poetry Analysis" »

Splendor of Fifteenth-Century Poetry

The fifteenth century is often called the Golden Age of Valencian literature. The cultural center of the Crown of Aragon was the city of Valencia, which surpassed Barcelona. Key literary developments included:

• Cultured Poetry (Ausias Marc and Joan Rois de Corella)
• Satirical Poetry (Jaime Roig): A satirical vein that criticizes the customs of the time.

Fifteenth-Century Poets

Ausias Marc

Ausias Marc was born in Valencia into a family of poets and knights. He took part in the expedition of Alfonso the Magnanimous (king). Approximately one hundred twenty-eight of his poems survive, including 'Songs of Love,' 'Songs of Death,' 'Moral Songs,' and 'Spiritual Song.'

His poetry departed from the poetic tradition of the... Continue reading "Fifteenth Century Valencian Poetry: A Literary Analysis" »

Latin Lyric Poetry

The Essence of Latin Verse

Latin lyric poetry shines as a prominent genre in Latin literature. Its language, filled with metrical accuracy, creates verses that flow with a captivating spontaneity, translating into well-crafted schemes.

From a content perspective, lyric poets empower their words with sincerity, warmth, vigor, and unsurpassed strength. Poetry becomes a testament to the passions of men, often expressing profound experiences and feelings with remarkable vitality.

Types of Lyric Poetry

The Greeks distinguished between monodic lyric (sung by an individual) and choral lyric (sung by a chorus). Latins focused primarily on the monodic form.

Within monodic lyric, the ancient Greeks further divided poetry into iambic, elegiac,... Continue reading "Latin Lyric Poetry: Exploring Horace and the Art of the Ode" »

The Poem of the Cid: An Epic Summary

The Poem of the Cid, or Cantar de Mio Cid, is Spain's national epic, recounting the heroic deeds of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid Campeador. It is divided into three cantos:

Canto I: The Song of Exile

El Cid is banished by King Alfonso VI, and his lands are given to the Castilian nobility. As he progresses, he conquers land from the Muslims and charges as a warrior. Each time he achieves a victory, his fame grows. He sends the king an important part of the booty won from his adversaries, hoping to reconcile with him.

Canto II: The Song of the Wedding

El Cid arrives from the Mediterranean, conquering Valencia. The King allows him to stay there with his daughters and wife, and El Cid is reconciled with... Continue reading "The Poem of the Cid and Lazarillo de Tormes: Pillars of Spanish Literature" »

Troubadour Poetry in Provence

Troubadour poetry emerged in the courts of Provence in the twelfth century, gaining prominence in the thirteenth century. These poems were composed and performed by troubadours, sometimes with the assistance of minstrels. The courts provided patronage to these poets, offering them sustenance in exchange for songs that praised women, describing their beauty and the prevailing customs of courtly love.

Ausias March, from Valencia, wrote in a style reminiscent of Dante Alighieri, emphasizing the beauty and spirituality of women. Francesco Petrarca composed songbooks, particularly sonnets, celebrating the beauty of Laura, his unattainable love.

Fifteenth-Century Castilian Lyric Poetry

This era saw the rise of the cancionero,... Continue reading "Troubadour Poetry and Renaissance Literature in Spain" »

Poetry of the 1950s: Social Realism and Commitment

Social poetry aimed to reveal the true reality of humanity and the nation, a stark contrast to the official narrative. It viewed poetry as a means of societal change, a tool to bear witness and denounce injustices, social inequities, and the lack of political freedoms. This conception of poetry led to specific thematic and formal consequences. Themes were primarily constructed to serve the poem's intended purpose. They bore witness to economic hardships, the alienation of labor, and sang of solidarity and struggle. The themes of Spain and the Civil War became constant benchmarks. The ideal recipient of this poetry was the broadest possible audience, the largest number of people. Hence, the language... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry: Social Realism to Introspection (1950s-1960s)" »

Irmandades da Fala: Cultural and Political Associations

The Irmandades da Fala were cultural and political associations founded in A Coruña in 1916 by Antón Vilar Ponte. Their primary aim was the defense and cultural recovery of the Galician language.

Key Authors and Works

• Antonio Noriega Varela: Single work, Montañeses, a reprint of The Wilderness, focusing on nature themes and the small things in life.

• Júlio Dantas: His work can be categorized into four stages:

  1. Pregaleguist: Social intention, exemplified by Vento Mareiro (written in exile).

  2. Galeguist: Civic themes, such as A terra asoballada.

  3. Historicist Nationalistic: Includes A noite estrelecida (three poems with medieval themes) and A rosa de cen follas (intimate, loving themes).

  4. Second Mature:

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" »