Jacinto Verdaguer: Pioneer of Modern Catalan Literature

Jacinto Verdaguer (1845-1902) (second half of the 19th century)

This author represents the consolidation of Renaixença poetry and is considered the creator of modern Catalan literature. He became so popular that his poems were learned in schools, and some even became popular songs.

The work of Verdaguer includes poetry and prose, and he alternated between Castilian and Catalan in his writings, producing all his work in Catalan.

Born into a peasant family, he entered the seminary to begin his ecclesiastical career and started to familiarize himself with European culture and Greco-Roman influences. He alternated his studies with farm work and developed an enthusiasm for the popular culture of his rural upbringing (tales, legends, etc.).

After being diagnosed with a disease, he was advised to breathe the sea air. He embarked on a ship as a chaplain en route to Cuba and had the opportunity to be in direct contact with the theatrical world, with which he won a prize in the Floral Games for his work, Atlantis.

He traveled extensively in Europe and made numerous excursions into the Pyrenees. After a trip to the Holy Land, Verdaguer shocked church authorities again, which led the bishop to withdraw his license to say Mass.

He died of tuberculosis, and his funeral was massive.

Work

As an exceptional writer, he emerges primarily as a poet. His poetry revolves around two main themes: God and Catalonia, characterized by a predominant tone and intimate descriptions of nature.

Epic Poetry

Atlantis

Considered the first masterpiece of the Renaissance and Romanticism, this long epic poem tells the legendary disappearance of the continent. It includes an introduction, ten cantos, and a conclusion.

Canigó

This epic poem is regarded as the best work of Renaissance poetry. It depicts the clash of two worlds: paganism (the fairies) and religion (monks and counts) during the Middle Ages, showcasing the victory of Christianity over Islam. Drawing from popular Catalan medieval legends, it intertwines historical and folkloric elements. The main theme is the origin of Catalonia, with nature described in rich detail as the real protagonist of the poem.

Gentil is the central character who symbolizes the romantic hero.

Lyric

His work is also characterized by religious and nationalist sentiment.

Prose

His prose encompasses three themes:

• Travel books
• News articles
• Folk narratives

Prejudices

Ames is a trial of value on a language or its speakers generated by ignorance or malice.

The language is compared with others (as per the dichotomy of Tuson):

• Those related to the internal diversity of language: the belief in a hierarchical relationship between language and dialect; rejection of those in favor of the standard, which is a corollary to the above prejudice and tends to impoverish the language; contempt for our dialects, widely exploited by secessionists; and the rejection of the standard, as without standard languages cannot be used in public areas and end up disappearing.