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

Miguel Hernandez, who absorbed in his teens the classic poems of the Generation of '27, his elders, faced a unique position. The poets of the '27 Generation considered him provincial and did not see him as one of their own. What unites M. Hernandez and the Generation of '27 is the blend of tradition and avant-garde.

Literary Influences on Hernandez

This blend or fusion can be seen in his connection to literary tradition, the masters of the preceding generation, and the literary avant-garde movements.

Tradition and Golden Age Classics

• Golden Age classics: San Juan de la Cruz, Garcilaso, Fray Luis (for his sonnets and pastorals)
• Baroque poets: Lope de Vega, Quevedo
• Becquer's poetry, for its Romanticism
• Neopopularism, a cultured version of popular forms

Test Item 2 and 3: Medieval Spanish Literature

Jorge Manrique (Middle Ages)

• Metrical Foot: Used the *pie quebrado* (broken-foot) couplet stanza of six lines (8a, 8b, 4c, 8a, 8b, 4c), grouped in pairs.
• Topics and Content: The transience of worldly things, the instability of fortune, and the power of death.

The Diacritical Tilde

Some words use a tilde (´) to differentiate them from other words that are spelled the same but have different grammatical uses and functions.

Lexical Families and Semantic Fields

• Lexical Family: The set of all words formed from the same lexeme or root.
• Semantic Field: A set of words that share some common significant features but have others that differ.

Determinants

Determinants are words that accompany the noun, preceding and... Continue reading "Spanish Literature: Middle Ages, Key Authors & Forms" »

Medieval Literary Genres in Spain

Lyric Poetry

Two trends characterized lyric poetry in medieval Spain:

• Traditional Lyric: Short poems focused on love affairs.
• Cultured Lyric: Encompassed three forms: cancionero, love poetry, and moral and satirical reflections on life and politics.

Narrative Poetry: Two Schools

• Mester de Juglaría (Minstrelsy): Featured epic poems and heroic narratives in versos de arte mayor.
• Mester de Clerecía (Clergy): Explored religious themes and the lives of saints in measured and rhymed verses, exemplified by works like the Book of Good Love and the Miracles of Our Lady.

Theater

• Religious Theater: Depicted scenes from Christ's life, such as his birth or crucifixion.
• Profane Theater: Included pastoral and romantic representations.

Novocentismo and the Avant-Garde in Spain

Vanguardia (avant-garde) desired Novocentismo, renovation, and modernization, focusing on two movements: Novocentismo and the avant-garde.

Novocentismo

Authors belonging to this movement had a strong intellectual background. They were worried about the situation in Spain but discussed it differently than the Generation of '98 authors.

Authors

• The sharp José Ortega y Gasset disseminated new ideas through essays such as The Dehumanization of Art.
• Ramón Pérez de Ayala and Gabriel Miró.

The Avant-Garde

The avant-garde comprised artistic movements characterized by their eagerness to renovate art and culture.

Movements

• Futurism: Characterized by extolling the mechanical and technical civilization.
• Cubism: First

Ancient Roman Governance: Key Institutions and Roles

The Roman Magistracies: The Cursus Honorum

The Roman magistrates were the leading exponents of executive power. The cursus honorum (course of honors), the progression of political offices, was perfectly regulated. It typically consisted of four main steps:

• Quaestor: The first step in the traditional Roman political career.
• Aedile: Responsible for public works and games.
• Praetor: Administered justice.
• Consul: The highest executive office.

The Roman Senate

During the Republic, the Senate was the most important organ of the Roman state. While its direct political power diminished during the Empire, it retained significant influence and prestige in civic life. Senators continued to enjoy high social... Continue reading "Ancient Roman Governance: Magistrates, Senate, and Censors" »

Spanish Poetry in the Second Half of the 20th Century: Trends, Authors, and Representative Works

1950s: Social Poetry

Poets felt the need to provide critical testimony of reality and adopt an attitude of commitment to the situation in Spain. Key works include Cantos Íberos and Pido la paz y la palabra (I Ask for Peace and the Word) by Gabriel Celaya, and Que trata de España by Blas de Otero, published in 1955.

Key themes:

• The issue of Spain
• Social injustice
• Alienation
• Longing for freedom

The language is clear, sometimes mundane, and the tone is colloquial, but it uses many rhetorical resources.

1960s: Poetry of Knowledge

By the end of the 1950s, a group of poets emerged who sought further elaboration of poetic language and a shift from the collective... Continue reading "Spanish Poetry & Theater: Mid-20th Century to 1970s" »

Baroque Literature

Baroque (17th Century Spain)

Characteristics

A cultural movement responding to the decline of Spain in the 17th century.

• Politics & Economy: Crisis and decline.
• Society: Increased power and wealth for the nobility, greater poverty for the masses.
• Ideology: Pessimism and disillusionment.
• Culture & Literature: Artistic splendor, complexity, and contrast.

Baroque Theater

Characteristics

• Three acts.
• Two intertwined plots.
• Mix of tragic and comic elements.
• Emphasis on action.
• Themes of love and honor.

Character Types

• Gallant/Lady
• Father/Brother
• Clown
• Powerful figure (e.g., King)

Key Authors

• Lope de Vega (Fuenteovejuna)
• Calderón de la Barca (Life is a Dream)

Baroque Poetry

Characteristics

• Blend of seriousness and humor.
• Renaissance themes with

The Debate

An argumentative text where participants, guided by a moderator, exchange opinions. It's an oral, spoken text with distinct parts: presentation, discussion, and closure.

Modernism

A literary movement from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the era's crisis. Characteristics:

• Profound spiritual and aesthetic renewal
• Emphasis on sensory and idealistic aspects
• Incorporation of sensation
• Recovery of classical and free verse

Rubén Darío

A key figure in Modernism, known for formal novelty and rupture. His first book, Azul, combined verse and prose, showcasing metric and verbal innovations. Dominant themes: social issues, eroticism.

End of the Century: Generation of '98

Writers like Miguel de Unamuno, Antonio Machado, and Pío Baroja... Continue reading "Spanish Literary Movements: Modernism and Generation of '98" »

Spanish Pre-Renaissance and Renaissance Literature

The Renaissance emerged in Italy during the 14th Century. Key authors included Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.

The Spanish Renaissance

The Spanish Renaissance is typically divided into two stages:

• 1st Stage: Pre-Renaissance (15th Century) - A period of transition. Christian, political, social, and moral creations were based on two parallel lines:
  • Traditional Folk Poetry (lyric traditional ballads)
  • Courtly Literature (poetry, courtly romances, and books of chivalry)
• 2nd Stage: Renaissance (t-5) - This designation refers to a later period.

Transition and New Thought

In the transition from the medieval period to the Renaissance, a new thought emerged: Humanism. This was the germ of a new vision of life,... Continue reading "Spanish Pre-Renaissance Literature and Poets" »

Spanish Poetry Until the 1950s: The Movements

Poetry Rooted (Poesía Arraigada)

This movement, prominent until the 1950s, sought the perfection of verse and expression to convey beauty while representing the plight of the time. Its interest lay in achieving formal mastery.

Key Characteristics and Themes:

• Themes: Religious and traditional subjects, such as landscape or love.
• Metric: Tended toward regulation; the sonnet was a favorite form.
• Context: Associated with literary journals like Garcilaso and Escorial.

Representative Poets:

Luis Rosales: Known for writing long verses using straightforward language. His imagery is often striking, sometimes approaching surrealism (e.g., La casa encendida).

Poetry Uprooted (Poesía Desarraigada)

A reaction against... Continue reading "20th Century Spanish Poetry: Rooted, Uprooted, and Social Movements" »