Literary Genres and Medieval Spanish Literature

Literary Genres

Lyric

These are verses, expressing feelings, and are texts marked by subjectivity.

Lyric Subgenres: Traditional

• Ode: Song of worship.
• Songs: Theme of love poem.
• Elegy: Expressing a feeling of pain.
• Eclogue: Poem featuring shepherds, idealized nature.
• Satire: Criticizing someone/something.
• Epistola: Letter in verse form.
• Epigram: Burlesque composition.

Lyric Subgenres: Popular

• Song: Oral transmission.
• Zejel: Arabic tradition.
• Villancico, Lyric Romance.

Dramatic

Characters that dialogue.

Dramatic Subgenres: Classical

• Tragedies: Work that presents serious themes, serious conflict, tragic ending.
• Comedy: Everyday topics mixed with humor, happy ending.
• Drama: Everyday characters/situations, happy ending, mixed genre.

Dramatic Subgenres: Important Minor

• Autos Sacramentales: Religious theme, from the Middle Ages.
• Entremés: Work of manners showing brief popular speech.
• Farce: Very brief comic work, characters in ridiculous situations.

Narrative

Stories characterized by a character in a determined place and time.

Narrative Genres: Prose

• Epic: Tells of important events for mankind.
• Chanson de geste: Referring to an epic poem.
• Romance: Anonymous text, 14th century.

Narrative Subgenres

• Novel: Long story, can narrate real or fictional events.
• Short Story: Brief and more concentrated. Can be lyrical or folkloric.

Didactic Types

• Fable: Characters are animals that behave like humans.
• Dialogue
• Essay: Utilizes an argumentative structure.
• The Tale: Text that reflects some events.
• Oratory: Aims to convince.

Medieval Spanish Literature (476-1453)

This period has a negative connotation. There was little social development, with three estates: Clergy, nobility, and the Third Estate. From the 12th-13th centuries, society changes; it was largely illiterate. At a linguistic level, jarchas and glosses are born.

The Ballads

They are a continuation of the epics, originating in the 15th century.

Features:

• Simplicity prevails.
• They try to express as much as possible.
• Archaic language.

Classification:

• Historical: Use Castilian epic themes.
• Chronological:
  • Breton: Epic themes from France and Britain.
  • Border and Moorish: Situation between Christians and Muslims.
  • Novelistic and Lyrical: Whose adventures are not based on reality, and add the lyrical theme of love.

Gonzalo de Berceo

First known author in Spanish literature. He moves in a religious environment, writing religious works and promoting sanctuaries. Miracles of Our Lady.

Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita

Book of Good Love.

Marquis of Santillana

Most important noble of the time. Cultivates love themes.

Juan de Mena

Cultivates allegorical and love poetry. Labyrinth of Fortune.

Alfonso X (the Wise)

Did not only rule, but also wrote books. Cantigas de Santa Maria, important chronicles.

Don Juan Manuel

Nephew of Alfonso X, nobleman of high rank. El Conde Lucanor.

15th Century Prose

• Sentimental Novel: Feeling of love, expressed through letters.
• Chivalric Novel: Figure of the knight, honor, loyalty, bravery, courage. Character very appealing to the public. Amadis of Gaul.