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

Odysseus' Adventures: A First-Person Account

My Journey After the Trojan War

I, Odysseus, stand before you in the court of King Alcinous, to recount my adventures since the end of the Trojan War. These tales have become popular, sung in many songs. They tell of the Cyclops Polyphemus, the enchantress Circe, who turns men into animals, and the Sirens with their misleading songs. Finally, in the thirteenth year, the narrative returns to a chronological order, and I reach Ithaca.

The Heroic Ideal in Homer's Epics

The human ideal in Homer's epics is characteristic of the aristocracy. The characters are heroes or noble kings, and their morale is competitive. The agonistic behavior of the individual is based on the recognition of their merits by others.... Continue reading "Odysseus' Adventures: A First-Person Account in Alcinous' Court" »

Ancient Iberia: Pre-Roman Civilizations

The period preceding Roman conquest, from ancient times until 218 BCE, marks a crucial stage in the Iberian Peninsula's history. This era began with the landing of Scipio and the initiation of the Roman conquest. During this time, various distinct languages and cultures flourished, with Basque, Celtic, Phoenician, and especially Greek influences standing out.

Key Pre-Roman Peoples

• Tartessians

  They established a rich empire in the south, extending along the Atlantic coast and up to the Strait of Gibraltar.

• Iberians

  These peoples inhabited the Mediterranean coast and nearby inland areas, primarily in the eastern third of the peninsula. They were known for their rock paintings and diverse crafts, including ceramics

The Origins of Troubadour Poetry

Troubadour poetry, written in the Romance language (Occitan), was the first of its kind and maintained the cultural influence of Latin literature. Troubadours were poets who composed both music and poems for the nobility, and they were closely linked to the courts. Minstrels disseminated their compositions.

Defining Troubadour Lyricism

Troubadour poetry is characterized by:

• Poetry: Elaborate texts, strong metric structure, and rhetorical complexity.
• Lyricism: The author expresses deep feelings concerning love, death, and religion.

The lyric tradition of the troubadours began with Guilhem de Poitiers in the 12th century.

Courtly Love (12th and 13th Centuries)

Courtly love (fin'amor) was a central theme, defining the... Continue reading "The Legacy of Troubadour Poetry and Catalan Lyricism" »

Early Life and Poetic Beginnings

Miguel Hernández and his poetry cannot be disentangled from the Spanish Civil War. While the war interrupted his natural development, it was crucial to his poetic and human growth. In his youth, his concerns were not primarily social or political. Works like Perito en Lunas show an exclusively literary preoccupation, and in El rayo que no cesa (The Lightning That Never Stops), the theme is love, not social issues.

The Spanish Civil War: A Turning Point

When Spain was plunged into the tragedy of the Civil War (1936-1939), Miguel Hernández acted, moved by loyalty to the Republic and his social class. He himself had left school at fifteen to become a shepherd for his father's flock. His commitment was also shaped... Continue reading "Miguel Hernández: Poetry, War, and Political Commitment" »

17th-Century Spanish Prose

Picaresque Novel

In the early 17th century, pessimistic literature emerged, reflecting social and satirical disappointment. Works like Guzmán de Alfarache (Mateo Alemán) and El Buscón (Francisco de Quevedo) showcase a moralistic shift. The rogue's role diminished, as seen in The Life of Squire Marcos of Obregón (Vicente Espinel) and La Pícara Justina.

Lucianesco Tales

Inspired by picaresque realism, Lucianesco tales incorporate magical elements and imaginative developments while maintaining a moral and critical worldview. Examples include Los Sueños (The Dreams) and El Diablo Cojuelo (The Devil on Two Sticks) by Quevedo and Luis Vélez de Guevara, respectively.

The Novella

These short stories, set in large cities,... Continue reading "17th-Century Spanish Literature: Picaresque to Religious Prose" »

Avant-Garde

In 1910 came the so-called avant-garde or "isms," which include: Creationism, of Hispanic origin, sought to create reality within the work itself, and Surrealism, of French origin, was intended to express emotions and subconscious thoughts.

The New Novel of the Century

Prominent authors include Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, and James Joyce.

Novecentismo

In the second decade of the twentieth century, there emerged a group known as the "Generation of '14," who were known for their intellectualism, their eagerness for Europe, and their search for pure art. The chief representative is Juan Ramón Jiménez, who wrote poetry.

Novecentista Novel

It is characterized by lyrical descriptive passages and the presence of essayistic elements. These works... Continue reading "Spanish and Latin American Literary Movements: 19th and 20th Centuries" »

Modernism and the Generation of '98 in Spanish Literature

Understanding Spanish Modernism

The late 19th and early 20th centuries in Spain witnessed the emergence of two significant literary and intellectual movements: Modernism and the Generation of '98. Modernism, in particular, sought a profound artistic renewal, standing in opposition to realism. This period coincided with Spain's significant loss of its last colonies, a severe blow that sparked discussions about national regeneration.

Definition and Origins of Modernism

Modernism is defined as a movement advocating for political, ideological, social, and religious renewal and change. It originated around 1880 in Hispanic America and arrived in Spain primarily through the influential work of... Continue reading "Key Eras in Spanish Literature: Modernism & The '98 Generation" »

El Greco's Artistic Style and Legacy

El Greco focused on the icons, rather than subordinating art to religious themes. Evicted by the court circle, El Greco finally settled in Toledo. This city became the setting for the masterpiece of 16th-century Spanish painting: The Burial of the Count of Orgaz (El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz).

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz: A Masterpiece

A medieval legend underlies the painting. In 1323, when Don Gonzalo Ruiz, Lord of the town of Orgaz, died in Toledo, St. Augustine and St. Stephen descended from the sky to bury his body in the parish of Santo Tomé.

The painter's first great success was fragmenting the canvas horizontally into two registers (zones).

Compositional Registers

• The Lower Zone: St. Augustine

Renaissance: New Ideas

• Appreciation of human beings: Anthropocentrism and individualism
• Critical spirit
• New force of classical culture
• New conception of the state: The Prince by Machiavelli
• New forms of social relations: Bourgeoisie (new values: wealth and economic power)
• Crisis of traditional morality

Restoration of Books - Poetry

• Italian influence
• Metric renewal: Hendecasyllables and seven syllables; lira, triplets, octavas reales, estancias or silvas
• New genres: Song, eclogue, epistle
• New topics: Love, nature, myths

First Half of the 16th Century: Garcilaso de la Vega

• Themes: Love, nature, mythology
• Works: Sonnets, songs, elegies, epistles, and 3 eclogues

Second Half of the 16th Century: Mystical Poetry

Fray Luis de Leon

• Themes: Rustic loneliness, desire

Spanish Literary Movements: Modernism and the Generation of '98

Modernism (Modernismo)

Modernism is a literary movement which defends art for art's sake, whose sole purpose is to celebrate beauty and move the reader. It manifests itself mainly through poetry. Its most important figure is the poet Rubén Darío.

Characteristics of Modernism

• Escapism: Imagination runs away from the everyday and takes refuge in classical mythology, legends, and fairy tales.
• Spirituality: Fascination with spiritual movements opposed to established religion, such as spiritualism and the occult.
• Social Focus: Praise for marginalized groups, peers of the bohemian life.
• Musicality: Modernist poetry is primarily music, intended to convey sensations and sentiments.

Modernist