Catalan Literature Milestones: 13th to 15th Centuries

Medieval Catalan Literary Developments

13th Century Foundations

Organyà Homilies

The first quarter of the 13th century saw the retention of text in the Organyà Homilies (sermons of the parish of Organyà) explaining the gospel for the town. During the reign of James I (1213–1276), the Crown of Aragon was consolidating, and the Kingdom of Valencia was founded. The compilation of charters of Valencia dates to 1261. The former Crown of Aragon utilized two languages: Catalan and Aragonese.

14th Century Shifts and Humanism

Francis Eiximenis

Towards the end of the fourteenth century, new ideas from Italy began to influence life, bringing a new worldview and addressing vices. This new movement, called humanism, saw the birth of **Francis Eiximenis** in Girona between 1330–1335. He entered the Franciscan Order very young, studied, and traveled across Europe. After a stay in Barcelona, he moved to Mexico, where he served as a city counselor, dedicating his work Regiment de la ciutat (Government of the City) to this role. He is the author of an extensive work of didactic and moralistic literature, lighter in tone for the Christian public.

Vincent Ferrer's Preaching Ministry

Vincent Ferrer was born in 1350. From 1399 until his death in 1419, he devoted himself to preaching. Vincent did not write his sermons himself; instead, an entire retinue of scribes took notes while he delivered the holy sermons.

Characteristics of Popular Sermons

Pointing out the popular character of his sermons, intended for a small public worship, Ferrer frequently used:

• Diminutives and augmentatives
• Onomatopoeia
• Interjections

Anselm Turmeda's Diverse Works

Anselm Turmeda was born in Mallorca in the mid-14th century and joined the Order of St. Francis. Around 1398, he embraced Islam. His works written in Catalan include:

• Coplas-Divisió del regne de Mallorca (1398)
• Carta-conhort als amonestats (1398)
• Disputa de l'ase contra frare Anselm (1418)

Late 14th and 15th Century Literary Heights

Ramon Llull's Influence

During the second half of the 13th century, Ramon Llull transformed our language into an instrument suitable for philosophical creation.

Ausiàs March's Poetry

Ausiàs March, the son of a poet, had a deaf-mute sister. In his youth, he participated alongside Alfonso V. He was more skilled in the dominion of the Beniarjó falconer and was considered the greatest poet. He married the sister of Guillem Escrivà (author of Tirant lo Blanc) and later married Joana Escorna. Although he had no legitimate children from his marriages, he did have illegitimate offspring. He died on March 3, 1459.

Communication Forms: The Interview Genre

Analyzing Dialogue Structures

A newspaper interview is a genre that includes questions and answers from a journalist. It can be:

• Informative
• Psychological

Oral Diffusion vs. Written Channel

Oral Diffusion: Communication is spontaneous, immediate, and efficient. It simply uses non-verbal codes suitable for high interaction.

Written Channel: Communication is crafted slowly, making it harder to use non-verbal codes suitable for high interaction.

Types of Questions

Questions can be categorized by their structure:

• Open: "What do you think...?"
• Hypothetical: "What if...?"
• Closed: "Which sport do you practice?"
• Direct: "Do you prefer what to eat?"
• Indirect: "I'd like to know what is..."