Medieval Castilian Literature: Berceo, Don Juan Manuel, Alfonso X

Medieval Castilian Literature: Authors and Forms

Gonzalo de Berceo

Gonzalo de Berceo: In Castilian, he is the first poet whose name is known. He wrote works of religious content. The Miracles of Our Lady are stories of miracles that show how the Virgin protects and forgives her devotees, even when they have committed faults.

Don Juan Manuel

Don Juan Manuel: The noble prince, nephew of Alfonso X, is the foremost representative of prose fiction in the 14th century.

The Count collected 51 short stories whose purpose is to teach nobles how to behave in the administration of their land.

They are structured:

• The Count presents a problem to his counselor Patronio.
• Patronio relates a tale relevant to the Count's problem.
• After the tale, Patronio reflects and teaches a lesson related to the Count's situation.
• The narrative offers advice and recommends that the Count act accordingly.
• Don Juan Manuel is introduced as a character and composes a moral in verse.

Castilian Prose and Alfonso X

Castilian Prose: It arose at a time when there was already a clear national consciousness and a need to disseminate knowledge.

Alfonso X the Wise: He promoted legal works, including the code of the seven items, and supported scientific works and recreation that divulgated the knowledge of the time. He also commissioned historical works with which Alfonso X wanted to show the greatness of his kingdom.

Gonzalo de Berceo — Miracles of Our Lady (Details)

Gonzalo de Berceo: In Castilian, he is the first poet whose name is known. He wrote works of religious content. The Miracles of Our Lady are stories of miracles that show how the Virgin protects and forgives her devotees, even when they have committed faults.

Consists of two parts: An introducción in which the narrator is presented as a pilgrim who arrives in a green meadow with flowers, trees and fountains. This is not a real place but represents the miracles of the Virgin. Un G-25, with a structure similar.

Mester de clérigos

Mester de clérigos: Known as the set of works composed by clérigos during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Features:

• Content: Texts of religious and ethical content.
• Purpose: Clérigos' works were composed with an obvious didactic purpose; their aim was to teach Christian role models to the people.
• Métrica: The verse used in these texts was the cuaderna vía: four Alexandrine verses (14 syllables), monorhymed (with a single rhyme).
• Transmission: These works were transmitted orally, because most people were illiterate; they spread through public reading or recitation of a written text.