Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Music

Romanticism: 19th Century Literary and Artistic Movement

The 19th century, marked by the consequences of the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution, saw the rise of Romanticism. This era transformed the contemporary world with the triumph of the Industrial Revolution.

Key Values in Romantic Literature

Romantic literature emphasized the irrational aspects of the individual:

• Sentiment: Love became the central theme for Romantic writers. However, unbridled passion could lead to destruction.
• Dreams: Nighttime, premonitions, visionary dimensions, and dreamlike images were valued, paving the way for Surrealism.
• Imagination: Originality and individual creativity were prized over imitation, becoming the model and tools for a closed explanation.

Literary Devices Explored

Alliteration occurs when repeating a phoneme or group of phonemes (e.g., "...shady and spacious shelter...").

Onomatopoeia is a type of alliteration mimicking real sounds.

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of phrases or verses.

Paronomasia involves associating two words with similar signifiers but different meanings.

Polysyndeton uses abundant and repeated conjunctions to coordinate language elements.

Epithet adds adjectives to characterize a noun for praise or blame (e.g., "O sweet treasures...").

Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton, omitting conjunctions where they might appear.

Ellipsis involves removing terms understood from context.

Hyperbaton alters usual word order.

Parallelism divides... Continue reading "Literary Devices: Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Metaphor & More" »

Traditional Spanish Lyric Poetry and Epic

Traditional Lyric Poetry

Traditional lyric poetry reflects the feelings of the people. Poetry accompanied fieldwork, domestic chores, and parties. It was designed to be easily memorized, as the population was largely illiterate. This anonymous poetry was transmitted orally, recited, and performed by juglares (minstrels), who traveled from town to town.

Common themes included love, fiestas, processions, and everyday activities. The language was characterized by short sentences, communicative density, and directness, with frequent interjections and expressions of affection.

Key Examples of Traditional Lyric Poetry

• Jarchas: These were short poems that appeared at the end of a longer composition called a muwassaha.