Catalan Literary Evolution: Renaissance to Modernism

The Renaissance and Baroque Periods

Peter Seraph (1505-1567)

Peter Seraph (1505/1510-1567) was influenced by Ausiàs March during the Renaissance. His Catalan works include two books and 170 poems.

John Smith (Died c. 1603)

John Smith (died c. 1603) fully embraced the traditionally conservative attitude of Ausiàs March. His work is a counter-accord with a movement that sought to restore the Church's moral authority, characteristic of the Baroque period.

Francesc Vicent Garcia (1579-1623)

Francesc Vicent Garcia (1579/1582-1623) is considered the greatest representative of his time, known as the Rector of Vallfogona. His work, influenced by Castilian literature, is humorous and eschatological (referring to excrement). He generated "vallfogonisme," a tradition of creating contrived, elegant, and satirical poetry.

The Renaixença: Catalan Literary Revival

Bonaventura Carles Aribau (1798-1862)

Bonaventura Carles Aribau (1798-1862) represents the first author to publish Catalan poetry again with "L'Oda a la Pàtria" (Ode to the Fatherland) in the magazine "El Vapor" (1833). This is considered the beginning of the late Renaixença.

Joaquim Rubió i Ors (1818-1899)

Joaquim Rubió i Ors (1818-1899) used the pseudonym Lo Gaiter del Llobregat (The Piper of Llobregat) for his poems. In his preface, he encouraged the restoration of the Floral Games.

The Floral Games: A Cultural Restoration

The Floral Games originated in the medieval period with the aim of retrieving Catalan literature. It consists of an annual poetry contest held in Barcelona, where three awards are given:

• Englantina: For a patriotic theme.
• Viola: For a religious theme.
• Natural Flower: For an amorous theme.

When a poet won a prize three times, they were called a "Mestre en Gai Saber" (Master in Gay Science/Knowledge). Authors from different provinces participated, including José Luis Pons Gallarza, Víctor Balaguer, and Jacint Verdaguer (Catalan authors). Despite interruptions for several years, the Floral Games still exist.

Key Figures in Renaixença Implementation

Antoni Bofarull (author of "The New Troubadours") and Víctor Balaguer (author of "The Modern Troubadours") assisted in implementing the Renaixença, a period when writing in Catalan was revived.

Jacint Verdaguer (1845-1902): The National Poet

Jacint Verdaguer (1845-1902) was born into a poor family in Girona. He studied at the Vic seminary and managed to win a prize at the Floral Games. He was ordained a priest and became a vicar, gaining the support of marquises.

When he was 40, his success entered a crisis due to his emigration to the Holy Land, where he sought spiritual reflection. This period provoked confrontations with the Church, as he began practicing exorcism. He was highly esteemed by the working class, who knew him as "Father Cinto." He died in Barcelona in 1902, with a multitudinous burial.

Major Works

Epic Poetry

• L'Atlàntida (1877): Based on the sinking of Atlantis and the discovery of America.
• Canigó (1886): Explores a legend set in the Pyrenees, depicting the Christian reconquest of Saracen territories, aiming to vindicate Catalonia's medieval past.

Lyric Poetry

• Patria, Aires del Montseny (patriotic themes).
• Flors del Calvari de Sant Francesc (religious themes).
• Virolai and L'Emigrant (which became very popular, among others).

Prose Works

• Fables (a collection of folk tales).
• Diary of a Pilgrim to the Holy Land (documenting his experiences during his travels).
• In Self-Defense (defending a controversial article in verse against his superiors).

All his works are framed within the spirit of Romanticism and the revival of the Catalan nation. He combined popular language and rhetoric with classical metrics, drawing inspiration from books and his travels.

Modernisme: Joan Maragall (1860-1911)

Joan Maragall (1860-1911) was born in Barcelona into a bourgeois family. His father wanted him to work in the family's industrial textile business, but Joan pursued law. He began publishing articles in a newspaper. He married Clara Noble and they had 13 children.

His poetry was criticized by the young Noucentistes. He died at 50. His extensive literary production includes:

Extensive Literary Production

• Opinion articles in Diari de Barcelona and La Veu de Catalunya.
• Essays such as Elogi de la Paraula (Praise of the Word) and Elogi de la Poesia (Praise of Poetry).
• Translations of authors like Homer and Pindar.
• Introductions and speeches.
• Extensive correspondence (epistolary).
• Poetry: Always expresses his feelings about what moves him (nature, landscape, life, country, death, etc.), such as in "Flors que s'esfullen" (Flowers that Wilt) and "Guerra" (War). His works include Visions i Cants (Visions and Songs), which incorporates various Modernist currents.