Masterpieces of Spanish Literature: Medieval to Golden Age
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The Literary Review: Siguientes
Milagros de Nuestra Señora by Gonzalo de Berceo
Gonzalo de Berceo, considered the first known author in the Spanish language, created Milagros de Nuestra Señora, a cornerstone of the Mester de Clerecía. This significant work consists of twenty-five stories centered on the Virgin Mary. In these tales, the Virgin, moved by the devotion shown towards a sinner, intervenes to save their life or soul. Berceo's work is a notable example of literature from the Middle Ages.
Jarchas: Early Spanish Lyric Poetry
Dating from the 11th to 13th centuries, Jarchas are short lyric compositions, typically two to four verses long. These were included by Arab and Jewish poets at the end of longer poems, often in Mozarabic dialect, marking them as some of the earliest examples of Romance language poetry from the Middle Ages.
Cantar de Mio Cid (Poem of the Cid)
This anonymous epic poem narrates the story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as the Cid, a Castilian nobleman who lived in the second half of the 11th century. The poem recounts the loss and recovery of the Cid's honor, unjustly disgraced by King Alfonso VI. Composed of 3,730 verses, it is divided into three parts or "cantares":
- Cantar del Destierro (The Song of Exile)
- Cantar de las Bodas (The Song of the Weddings)
- Cantar de la Afrenta de Corpes (The Song of the Affront of Corpes)
It is a foundational work of the Middle Ages.
El Conde Lucanor by Don Juan Manuel
Don Juan Manuel's El Conde Lucanor is a central didactic work from the Middle Ages. It consists of fifty-one didactic stories, or "ejemplos," designed to transmit moral and practical teachings. The structure involves Count Lucanor presenting a problem to his advisor, Patronio, who then narrates a tale from which a pattern of behavior or solution emerges. Don Juan Manuel concludes each story with his own moral and accompanying verses.
Lazarillo de Tormes (Anonymous)
This anonymous work marks the birth of the picaresque novel genre. Characterized as a fictional autobiography, it offers a realistic portrayal of society and action within a specific time and place. Lazarillo de Tormes is considered the first work of European literature to feature a realistic anti-hero protagonist, narrating his adventures across seven "treatises" or chapters. It is a key text from the 16th century.
The Romance (Spanish Ballad)
Romances are poems composed of an infinite series of octosyllabic verses with assonant rhyme. They often deal with narrative or lyrical themes, popular throughout various periods of Spanish literature.
El sí de las niñas by Leandro Fernández de Moratín
El sí de las niñas is a critique of arranged marriages, which were common at the time, particularly the practice of marrying young girls to older men. The author questions the education given to young women and advocates for models based on reason and free choice.
Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes, widely regarded as the creator of the modern novel, penned Don Quijote de la Mancha, one of the undisputed masterpieces of universal literature. The novel famously explores the interplay between imagination and reality through its protagonists, Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.
Other Notable Spanish Literary Works
- Francisco de Quevedo: El Buscón
- Lope de Vega: Fuenteovejuna
- Pedro Calderón de la Barca: La vida es sueño