14th-Century Spanish Literature: Juan Ruiz and Don Juan Manuel

El Libro de Buen Amor: A 14th-Century Masterpiece

Mester de Clerecía continues into the 14th century. The great work written in this period is El Libro de Buen Amor by the Archpriest of Hita. This name has been used since the early 20th century for a work composed of 1728 verses, originally known as the Archpriest's work. Ramón Menéndez Pidal was the philologist who proposed the new title due to the frequent use of the phrase 'buen amor' (good love) within the text.

Authorship and Versions

Two surviving versions of the work exist: one from the year 1330 and another from 1343. The latter is considered the definitive version. The author provides limited data about himself; it is known that Juan Ruiz was his name, and he was an archpriest in the town of Hita, Guadalajara.

Structure of El Libro de Buen Amor

The book is a work formed by a succession of topics, verses, and varying genres. Thus, the following can be distinguished:

1. A prose prologue in the form of an ecclesiastical sermon, aiming to teach man to always choose good love over 'mad love' (loco amor).
2. A fictional narrative, supposedly autobiographical, recounting successive failed amorous adventures.
3. A collection of examples, which are elaborations of fables, rephrasing and paraphrasing Aesop.
4. A paraphrase of Pamphilus de Amore, a 12th-century Latin comedy-burlesque.
5. An allegorical narrative: the battle between Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma.
6. Various themes, including moral reflections focused on combating sin.
7. A series of skits, the best known being about the power of money (dinero).
8. Lyrical poems, both religious and secular.

Style and Significance of the Work

Throughout the work, the style is lively and expressive, with a rich vocabulary and turns of phrase very close to popular language, including a considerable quantity of proverbs. These stylistic features help to give the work the character that the author himself assigned to it, akin to a troubadour's performance.

Intention of the Work

The primary intention of El Libro de Buen Amor is didactic and moral, though it also offers entertainment and social commentary.

Don Juan Manuel and El Conde Lucanor

The 14th century saw the development of cities and towns, where free men, typically merchants and craftsmen, resided. This led to an increased readership and the emergence of significant literary figures. Among them, Don Juan Manuel (1282-1348), nephew of Alfonso X the Wise, stands out. A refined courtier with a rich culture and well-versed in classical authors, he represents the prototype of a self-demanding writer. Following the tradition of his time, he wrote his book to serve as an example for those who would learn from it.

Literary Style of Don Juan Manuel

One of Don Juan Manuel's primary objectives was to achieve clarity in his exposition. He took great care with his vocabulary and syntax, and also showed interest in developing a concise style. This makes his prose arguably the most elaborate of the medieval period.

El Conde Lucanor: Structure and Content

El Conde Lucanor, composed around 1335, collects 51 examples that deal with the advice Patronio, the Count's servant, offers his master. Its structure is always the same:

1. The young Count consults his servant Patronio on an issue that arises. Patronio, instead of answering directly, responds by telling a story that contains a teaching.
2. The second part explains how to apply the teaching of the story to the problem raised.
3. Don Juan Manuel finally intervenes to explain why he decided to include the story in his book, and summarizes its moral.

The stories are not original; Don Juan Manuel collected and reworked folk tales, adapting them to convey the intended moral.