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

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

Lazarillo de Tormes: Birth of the Picaresque Novel

With the publication of Lazarillo de Tormes in 1554, one of the most representative genres of Spanish literature's Golden Age began: the picaresque novel. This groundbreaking work introduced a new literary form with distinct characteristics:

• Pseudo-Autobiographical Story: Narrated by a character of miserable origins.
• Open Structure: Composed of loose scenes in various places with different characters, all connected by the pícaro (rogue).
• Picaresque Character: The protagonist is typically smart, versatile, prudent, wary, and driven by an eagerness for social advancement.
• Explanation of Dishonor: The narrative often culminates in a final statement or situation of dishonor.
• Determinism: The pícaro,

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" »

Bonaventura Carles Aribau's Ode: "La Pàtria" (1833)

Bonaventura Carles Aribau's poem The Homeland (La Pàtria), written in 1833, is a key work of the first half of the 19th century. This ode holds significant historical value for the revival of Catalan literature, marking the symbolic start of the Renaixença movement.

Context and Motivation for Writing "La Pàtria"

Aribau (Barcelona, 1798–1862) composed La Pàtria while working in Madrid, far from Catalonia. Driven by profound nostalgia and longing for Barcelona and his homeland, he wrote this poem of yearning. The ode begins with a typical song of farewell (“adéu-siau...”).

Linguistic Features and Style

The Catalan used in the poem is pre-Pompeu Fabra (pre-Fabrian). It incorporates archaic... Continue reading "Bonaventura Carles Aribau's 'La Pàtria': A Renaissance Catalyst" »

Mester de Clerecía: Characteristics

The Mester de Clerecía refers to the office of the clergy and the literary genre that flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries in Spain. Key characteristics include:

• Metric: Use of cuaderna vía (fourteen-syllable lines with a single rhyme).
• Themes: Predominantly heroic and religious.
• Authorship: Known and unique authors, often signing their works.
• Didactic Purposes: To indoctrinate the literate faithful.
• Background: Sources in classical Latin and religious texts.
• Style: Cultured and characterized by the careful employment of literary devices.

Key Authors of Mester de Clerecía

13th Century: Gonzalo de Berceo

A cleric linked to the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla and Santo Domingo de Silos. He authored... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Literature: Genres and Key Authors" »

Medieval Period (476-1492)

The Medieval Period, extending from 476 to 1492, was marked by the Arab presence (711-1492) and diverse religious influences.

Features of Medieval Literature

• Oral Transmission: Transmitting stories through singing or recitation.
• Anonymity: Most works were anonymous.
• Didacticism: Literature often had a didactic function.

Traditional Lyric Poetry

Early medieval lyrical manifestations included ditties sung by people on holidays.

The Jarchas

Written in Mozarabic (11th century), these were brief lyrical compositions of 2-4 verses. Arab and Jewish poets of the peninsula included them at the end of poems written in Hebrew or Arabic. The theme was often a woman's lament to her lover.

The Cantigas de Amigo

Galician-Portuguese poets (... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Literature: Characteristics, Works, and Authors" »

The Generation of 98

The Generation of 98 refers to the year of disaster for the loss of the last colonies (Cuba and the Philippines). The style is sober and expressive, while the baths are a concern for Spain, with sensitivity and emotion against the landscape.

Antonio Machado

Solitudes, Galleries and Other Poems (themes: time, man, love, death, and God), Campos de Castilla (land of Soria), New Songs (proverbs and songs). During the civil war: Death of the Wounded Child, The Crime Was in Granada (death of Garcia Lorca), Madrid, Madrid!, How Well Your Name Sounds!

Miguel de Unamuno (Essayist)

Poetry

Lyrical sonnets, Rosario, El Cristo de Velazquez, From Fuerteventura to Paris, ballads and songs of exile (poetic).

Novels

Fog, Love and Pedagogy, Peace

Garcilaso de la Vega: Renaissance Poet and Soldier (1501–1536)

Garcilaso de la Vega was a noble, courtier, man of letters, and soldier. Due to his extensive travels, he encountered the Italian Renaissance poetic model, which he successfully introduced and popularized in Spain.

Life and Career Highlights

• Born in Toledo (1501) into a noble family.
• In 1526, after marrying Elena de Zúñiga, he traveled to Granada for the wedding of Emperor Charles V to Isabella of Portugal. There, he met the Portuguese lady Isabel Freire, whom he hopelessly fell in love with and dedicated most of his verses to.
• In 1531, he was exiled (likely to an island on the Danube) for participating in his nephew's wedding without the Emperor's authorization.
• He later went to

Generation of '27: A Poetic Fusion

Balancing Tradition and Innovation

The Generation of '27 achieved a unique equilibrium, blending avant-garde experimentation with established traditions. This fusion encompassed:

• Traditional and popular lyricism
• Classical influences, reflected in the pursuit of formal perfection
• Romantic influences, apparent in the immediacy of emotion
• Influence of Juan Ramón Jiménez's pure poetry
• Elements of avant-garde movements

Key figures who influenced this generation include Juan Ramón Jiménez, José Ortega y Gasset, and Ramón Gómez de la Serna. Stylistically, their poetic creation often involved associating poetry with unconventional subjects, exploring a diverse range of themes, both traditional and modern.

Key Poets