15th-Century Spanish Poetry, Humanism, and Renaissance Prose

15th-Century Spanish Poetry

Fifteenth-century poetry, influenced by traditional folk songs, developed into two main forms: poetry of oral transmission and educated poetry.

Oral Poetry: The Romancero

The romancero is a collection of poetry from oral tradition that continues and renews old epic themes. These ballads are narrative poems, often sung, with a specific metric structure. Some recount the exploits of medieval heroes, while others narrate the wars against the Muslim kingdom.

Key Characteristics

• Meter: Simple eight-syllable lines with assonance rhyme in the even-numbered lines.
• Types: Two types of ballads are distinguished:
  • Romancero Viejo (Old Ballads): A compilation of anonymous romances from oral tradition.
  • Romancero Nuevo (New Ballads): Romances written by known authors from the 16th century to the present.

Educated Poetry: The Cancionero

The cancionero is a collection of cultured poetry that introduced new poetic themes and styles. Its main subjects were:

• Courtly Love: Expressing painful and hopeless feelings of love for an unattainable lady.
• Moral Issues: Proposing models of virtue inspired by classical antiquity.

The *cancioneros* (songbooks) are compilations of works by different poets of the 15th century. The best known is the Cancionero de Baena. They address themes such as love, wealth, political satire, ambition, and greed, using a style rich in paradoxes, antitheses, and wordplay.

The Dawn of the Renaissance

Humanism: A New Worldview

Humanism was a cultural movement that consolidated in the late 15th century. Writers, inspired by classical antiquity, focused their interest on human life itself. This provided a new vision of human beings and proposed an ideal of perfection and beauty.

The Renaissance Spirit

The Renaissance offered an optimistic and joyful view of human life. It promoted a new lifestyle aimed at developing a balanced personality and took its artistic and intellectual models from Greece and Rome. This spirit fostered curiosity about the world and contributed to the development of scientific thought.

Renaissance Prose in the 16th Century

Renaissance prose experienced significant development throughout the 16th century. Humanism sparked interest in morality, politics, language, science, art, history, religious feelings, and fiction. During the Renaissance, a variety of literary genres were cultivated, mostly written in prose.

Didactic Genres

Works on Profane Subjects

These works feature reflections on language, politics, morality, and the ideal of a life in harmony with nature. The main writers include the Valdés brothers and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

Works on Religious Themes

These works on religious themes aim to stimulate trust, sacrifice, and consolation in the face of misfortune. The main writer was Santa Teresa de Jesús. Her works, such as The Interior Castle and The Book of Her Life, are models of sincerity, naturalness, and charm.