Literary Genres and Major Works of Medieval Spain

Literary Genres and Their Evolution

Defining Literary Genres

Literary genres are grouped into categories or models of literary texts with common features of form and content.

Evolution of Text Transmission

• Oral Transmission: Primarily for plays.
• Written Transmission: Led to print, which was easier to read, and new technologies, resulting in the individualized printed book.

Medieval Literature in Western Europe

Historical Context: The Medieval Period

This period develops in Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire until the Renaissance.

Medieval Society and Economy

• Social Structure: Nobility, clergy, and peasants (with varying privileges).
• Cultural Focus: Theocentrism (religion and culture).

Literature by Social Class

• Common People: Lyric songs.
• Nobility: Epic poems.
• Clergy: Narratives.

Traditional Lyric Poetry

• Jarcha

  • Origin: Arabic, Hebrew vulgar, or Mozarabic.
  • Theme: A young woman complains to her mother about the absence of her lover.

• Cantigas de Amigo

  • Origin: Galician-Portuguese.
  • Theme: A young lover complains to elements of nature.

• Carols and Romances

  • Origin: Cultured Castilian.

Cultured Lyric Poetry

• Muwashshahat

  • Origin: Arabic and Hebrew classics.
  • Theme: Love.

• Troubadour Poetry (Provence)

  • Theme: A minstrel loves the lady, offering knight's service and complaining about her disdain.

15th Century Poetry

• Marquis of Santillana (Íñigo López de Mendoza)

  • Notable work: Serranillas.

• Juan de Mena

  • Notable work: Labyrinth of Fortune.

• Jorge Manrique

  • Notable work: Coplas por la muerte de su padre (Stanzas on the Death of His Father).
  • Themes: Transience of life, contempt of worldly goods, death, and fame.

Epic Poems: Heroes and Narratives

Characteristics of Epic Poems

• Content: Tell epic exploits featuring knights elevated to the status of heroes.
• Meter: Assonance rhyme.
• Minstrel Resources: Appeals to the audience and epic epithets.
• Style: Direct, believable story, and realism.

The Cantar de Mio Cid

• Features of the Hero: Magnificent warrior, beloved by the people, very religious, loyal friend, exemplary husband and father, faithful vassal.
• Structure: The Song of Exile, The Wedding Songs, and The Outrage of Corpes.

The Old Romancero

• Types: Epic (chanson de geste), historical (factual), and romance (feeling).

Mester de Clerecía and Castilian Prose

Mester de Clerecía

• Definition: A set of works composed by clerics.
• Characteristics: Religious content, didactic purpose, specific meter, and oral transmission.

Gonzalo de Berceo: Miracles of Our Lady

• Content: Stories of miracles where the Virgin protects and forgives her devotees.
• Structure: Presentation, Difficulties of the Devotee, Apparition of the Virgin, and Final Reflection.

The Book of Good Love (Libro de Buen Amor)

• Content: Includes love stories, a plant, an epic episode, mountain, and examples of prayers and praise songs.

Castilian Prose

• Types: Legal, scientific, recreational, and historical works.
• Collections of Short Stories: Kalila and Dimna, Sendebar.

Don Juan Manuel: El Conde Lucanor

• Content: 55 stories.
• Objective: To teach nobles how to behave.
• Structure: The Count presents a problem, Patronio tells a story, reflects, and advises Don Juan Manuel on the character's situation.