Catalan Literature: Periods, Authors, Works

Literary Genres and Periods

Genre Definition

Formal manifestations of literary works according to a classification that takes into account the structure and topic covered.

Medieval Chronicles

• Book of Deeds: Life and deeds of the most important monarch, James I.
• The Chronicle of Bernat Desclot: Chronicles the reigns from Alfonso the Chaste to Peter II the Great.
• The Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner: Covers the period from the birth of James I to the coronation of Alfonso III the Liberal.
• Chronicle of Peter IV of Aragon: Discusses his reign and that of his father, Alfonso III the Liberal.

Humanism

Originating in Italy, recovering the works of classical antiquity. The Renaissance period was a decisive influence on artistic expression and ways of life, bringing a new vision of man and a change in attitude.

• Bernat Metge: Works primarily in verse, though some are linked to the medieval mentality.
• Involvement in the death of King John I: Wrote Lo somni (The Dream) to exonerate himself. This work, along with Quatre líries (Four Lyrics), is considered among the first examples of Humanism.

Modernism and Noucentisme

Aims to transform the antiquated traditional culture into a modern national one.

Postwar Literature

• Pere Quart: Les decapitacions (The Decapitations).
• Vicent Andrés Estellés: Llibre de meravelles (Book of Wonders).
• Miquel Martí i Pol: La fàbrica (The Factory).

G60 Literary Group

Associated with Nova Cançó, realism, fantasy, and lyricism.

Romantic Theater

• Drama: Comedy of urban customs.
• Tragedy: Frederic Soler, Àngel Guimerà (e.g., Terra baixa, Mar i cel).

Realism

Stendhal: "A novel is a mirror that strolls along the way."

Key Catalan Authors and Works

Ausiàs March

Expresses feelings in a direct, personal way, with an intimacy unusual in the poetry of the time.

Ramon Llull

• Llibre d'Evast e Blaquerna: The first philosophical novel in Catalan.
• Art abreujat de trobar veritat: The first attempt at a general Art by Llull.
• Llibre de meravelles: Recalls the five wounds of Christ and uses them for exemplification. Tells the story of a man.

Jacint Verdaguer

• L'Atlàntida: Won two Floral Games prizes (Englantines).
• Canigó: Based on excursions to the Pyrenees for documentation.
• En defensa pròpia: Written during his two years at the Sanctuary of Gleva.

Àngel Guimerà

Narrative with an autobiographical tone, combative and patriotic tone, great descriptions, great skill, and dramatic conception of epic and colossal themes.

• Terra baixa (Lowland): Guimerà was born before the marriage of his parents. Marta in Terra baixa is an orphan with unknown parents.
• Mar i cel (Sea and Sky): Reflects his Canary Islands origin; he was born in Santa Cruz and arrived in El Vendrell by boat when he was 8 years old.
• La filla del mar (The Daughter of the Sea): Àgata is the only survivor of a Moorish ship.

Josep Maria de Sagarra

Focuses on arts and moral conflict, with a psychological approach.

• Poems and dramatic pieces, including comedies of manners like L'hereu i la forastera (The Heir and the Stranger).

Contemporary Catalan Authors

• Jaume Cabré: La teranyina (The Cobweb).
• Carme Riera: Dins el darrer blau (Within the Last Blue).
• Jesús Moncada: Camí de sirga (The Towpath).
• Quim Monzó: L'udol del griso al caire de les clavegueres (The Howl of the Grey One on the Edge of the Sewers).

Historical Context

Factors Affecting Catalonia

• Shift of trade from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
• Shifting of the royal court to the main center of the peninsula; much of the Catalan nobility became castilianized and identified with centralized and uniform policy.
• War of the Germanies: Led to the fragmentation of the country with the loss of a province.
• Decrees of Nueva Planta: Annulled Catalan laws and institutions and suppressed Catalan as an official language.

Catalan Verb Conjugation Examples

Verb: Escopir (to spit)

• Pretèrit anterior (Pre.anterior): haguí escopit
• Pretèrit anterior perifràstic (Pre.ant.perif): vaig escopir
• Pretèrit perfet de subjuntiu (Pre.perf.sub): hagi escopit
• Pretèrit imperfet de subjuntiu (Pret imp.sub): escopís / escopira
• Plusquamperfet (Pluscuan): hagués escopit / haguera escopit

Verb: Escopir (to spit) - More Examples

• Present (Indicative): escopesc
• Pretèrit indefinit (Pre.indef): he escopit
• Pretèrit imperfet (Pret.inper): escopia
• Plusquamperfet (Indicative): havia escopit
• Pretèrit perfet simple (Pre. perf): escopí
• Pretèrit perfet perifràstic (Pre. perf.peri): vaig escopir