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

Postwar Spanish Theater

The Siege of Breda and the Tercio of Cartagena

The protagonist of our story is Iñigo Balboa, the companion of Captain Alatriste. The travels of the latter shall recount the adventures that occurred ten years earlier in Breda, which serve as inspiration to both artists. The telling of the adventures starts with Iñigo walking towards a meeting with his master, carrying the memory of some of his experiences and excerpts of the upcoming adventures of the Captain.

After the road, Iñigo finds Diego Alatriste with the rest of the squadron of Flanders. The next day, the entire Tercio of Cartagena (a word used repeatedly in reference to the troops, the battalion, and the squadron), where Captain Alatriste was stationed, prepared for the arrival in... Continue reading "The Sun Over Breda: Captain Alatriste's Siege Adventures" »

The Mester de Clerecía

A new poetic trend emerged in the thirteenth century, aiming to educate about Christian life and culture. This movement is known as the Mester de Clerecía (Ministry of Clergymen).

Leading representatives of this trend were Gonzalo de Berceo and Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita.

Gonzalo de Berceo

Gonzalo de Berceo was the first writer in the Spanish language whose name we know. His most important work is The Miracles of Our Lady (Milagros de Nuestra Señora), which contains 25 short narrative poems (miracles).

Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita

Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita's most important work is The Book of Good Love (Libro de buen amor). It belongs to a time of transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Features of

The Carolingian Empire

The Frankish Kingdom

The Franks settled in Gaul after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The region was initially governed by warlords until Clovis unified the Gallo-Roman peoples and the Franks. He famously defeated the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouillé.

Mayors of the Palace

The successors of Clovis largely left the government in the hands of the Mayors of the Palace. Notably, Charles Martel stopped the Muslim advance into Europe at the decisive Battle of Poitiers.

The Carolingian Dynasty

Pepin the Short founded the Carolingian dynasty. He allied with Pope Stephen in the fight against the Lombards, who had invaded Italy. In return for the Pope's support, Pepin the Short granted him the Papal Domains, laying the foundation... Continue reading "The Carolingian Empire and Early Medieval Art" »

Vicente Aleixandre: Surrealism and Universal Connection

Vicente Aleixandre is one of the most prominent Spanish poets whose surrealism manifested a desire for integration and communication with the universal. This binding is achieved through two main themes: love and death.

Stages of Aleixandre's Work

His work is usually divided into three distinct stages:

• Vanguard Stage: Aleixandre assumes surrealist postulates freely. In this first stage of production, he focuses on imperfection, anguish, and human frailty. Aleixandre appears pantheistic, wanting to merge with nature as a way to participate in its harmony. In his books, he identifies the fullness of love with death in a mystical way.
• Abandonment of Surrealism: There is a grand vision of human

The Experimental Novel: 1960-1980

Between 1960 and 1980, a set of innovative novels emerged in Latin American literature. These works often incorporated magical realism but delved deeply into experimentation with new narrative forms. Key novelists who pioneered this movement include:

• Ernesto Sabato

  Sabato wrote an intellectualized narrative, often resembling an essay, which crystallized in works such as The Tunnel (a short novel exploring love and madness), On Heroes and Tombs, and Abaddon the Destroyer. His work offers a critical reflection on contemporary society.

• Julio Cortázar

  Cortázar stands out for his short stories, often resembling fairy tales in the vein of Kafka and Borges (e.g., Bestiary, Secret Weapons, All Fires the Fire). In his

The Experimental Novel (1960-1970)

Time of Silence by Luis Martín Santos (1962), marks the end of social realism and the beginning of a total renovation of the novel. From this point on, authors became increasingly concerned with formal aspects, leading to a renewal of narrative techniques. For the first time in Spain, novelists turned their attention to the innovations that the genre had experienced worldwide since the beginning of the century. The Latin American narrative, formally much more innovative than ours, experienced its famous "boom" with works like: The City and the Dogs (1962) by Mario Vargas Llosa, Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, and One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel García Márquez.

Some of the most relevant titles... Continue reading "Spanish Novel Evolution: 1960s to Present" »

Celestina: A Masterpiece of Spanish Literature

Celestina is a masterpiece of literature, written in the late fifteenth century and achieving success in the sixteenth century.

Authorship

The authorship is a subject of debate. The accepted theory suggests two authors. One author wrote the first act, and Fernando de Rojas wrote the rest.

Title Variations

Early editions were titled Calisto and Melibea, but in the sixteenth century, the title changed to Tragicomedy of Callisto and Melibea.

Plot Summary

Callisto, a nobleman, encounters Melibea and becomes infatuated, but she rejects him. Callisto, through his servants, employs a procuress named Celestina. Through her deceptions and spells, Celestina changes Melibea's feelings. Celestina secures her commission... Continue reading "Celestina: Love, Tragedy, and Social Commentary" »

Archpriest Juan Ruiz de Hita and The Book of Good Love

The Book of Good Love is the most important work of the mester de clerecía of the 14th century. The author is known only by what he says in his work, Juan Ruiz, the Archpriest of Hita.

The Book of Good Love refers to the theme of love, both divine and worldly.

Structure

The Book of Good Love begins with a prologue that explains the intent of the work: to warn about the dangers of love.

Style

It is written mostly in cuaderna vía, except for the lyric poems, which are written in short verses.

Alfonso X: Promoting Castilian Spanish

Alfonso X promoted the use of Castilian as a common language between Christians, Jews, and Arabs.

Topics

Alfonso X aimed to record everything of political, social, economic,... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Literature: Ruiz, Alfonso X & Manuel" »

Josep Carner i Puig-Oriol (1884-1970)

Early Life and Career

Josep Carner i Puig-Oriol, born in Barcelona on February 9, 1884, was a prominent Catalan poet, journalist, playwright, and translator. He became a leading figure of the Noucentisme movement. In 1897, he entered the University of Barcelona, where he discovered Catalan literature and graduated in Law and Philosophy. Carner worked for several publications, including Montserrat and Atlantis, and led Catalunya (1903-1905), Emporis (1907-1908), and Catalonia (1913-1914). In 1911, he was appointed a member of the Philological Section of the Institute of Catalan Studies, contributing to the enrichment of the Catalan language.

Journalism and Family

In the early 20th century, Carner joined La Veu