Bonaventura Carles Aribau's 'La Pàtria': A Renaissance Catalyst

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 or older Catalan forms, such as “it rest, it color-color...” instead of modern possessives like “the mine...”

The term Limousin was mistakenly used to designate Catalan, stemming from confusion with the Occitan dialect spoken in Limoges.

Structure and Meter

The ode consists of 6 stanzas of 8 Alexandrine verses (vv), following a cross-rhyme scheme (12A/12B/12B/12A/12C/12D/12D/12C). The stanzas, specifically verses 1 and 8, hold particular historical value.

Analysis of the Stanzas

1. Stanza 1: Farewell to the Landscape

   The poet bids farewell to the sky and the Montseny mountains. A geographical detail mentioned is entirely accurate: from Montseny, one can spot Montjuïc (etymologically meaning “Mountain of the Jews”) and even Mallorca.

2. Stanza 2: Disdain for Economic Change

   He expresses farewell to the Catalan soil. He dislikes the economic changes taking place. He falls into “dreams,” recalling places like the Llobregat river and Catalan folk songs.

3. Stanza 3: Consolation in Language

   The only conort (consolation) left is the ability to sing in the Limousin language (referring to Catalan).

4. Stanza 4: Longing and Elegy (Anyorança)

   This stanza accentuates the character of anyorança (longing), adding an elegiac touch. He expresses happiness in singing in the “medieval language.” (Note: The text mentions “Muria – a fellow that died in archaic sense figuratively.”)

5. Stanza 5: Childhood Memories

   Focusing on the Limousin-Catalan language, the poet becomes emotional, remembering his childhood and hearing Catalan spoken.

6. Stanza 6: Legacy and Nation

   He dedicates his native language, Catalan, so that in the future, the memory of the homeland and the nation remains.

Historical Significance in the Renaixença

Aribau published this ode in the magazine El Vapor in 1833. It became the symbolic starting point of the Renaixença movement for two main reasons:

• Romantic Exaltation: The romantic celebration of the Catalan landscape (Montseny, Llobregat).
• Literary Shift: It was the first published poem adhering to new Romantic literary tastes.

For Aribau, in exile from Catalonia, the language itself was the only possibility to satisfy the profound longing he felt.