Medieval Poetic Transformations: 14th & 15th Century Literary Shifts
Poetry of the 14th and 15th Centuries
Survival of Troubadour Poetry
From the fourteenth century, European society moved beyond the strict feudal system, acquiring a renewed dynamism. The creation of large cities gave way to an urban culture characterized by the emergence of a new social class, the bourgeoisie, a new economic system based on trade and finance, a more skeptical vision of religion, and a new conception of art, transitioning from Romanesque to Gothic. The troubadour song model persisted into the 15th century.
El Neret Ripoll
This collection contains 18 poems and showcases various troubadour genres.
Poetry Competitions and the Decline of Troubadour Art
The Crusade against the Cathars in 1209 allowed the French king's troops to conquer Toulouse. The Holy Inquisition persecuted the French art of trobar. By the end of the 13th century, troubadour poetry began to disappear. This period saw the emergence of the Leys d'Amors (Laws of Love), which limited the freedom of the poet by:
- Reducing thematic scope.
- Fixing formal structures.
- Imposing a rigid linguistic variant.
Return to Classic Troubadour Themes
Figures like Jordi de Sant Jordi are notable for their lyrical and personal tone, echoing classic troubadour styles.
Evolution of Poetic Language
In the 14th and 15th centuries, a linguistic hybridity emerged. While retaining the variety of poetic Occitan, poets increasingly incorporated Catalan voices and linguistic features.
Lyrical Innovations: Dante and Petrarch
These movements are characterized by innovation: new thematic treatments and innovative forms. They represent a departure from the troubadour tradition, leaving behind the feudal world and its concept of nobility. This new lyrical approach created a new ideal of woman and gradually abandoned the Occitan language in favor of vernaculars like Italian.
Ausiàs March: A New Lyrical Voice
Ausiàs March profoundly broke with the troubadour tradition. In his poems, he speaks about poetry itself, making it sincere and deeply personal. He is considered the most important poet in medieval Catalan literature, having created a nova lírica (new lyricism). March's concept of poetry is intrinsically linked to his philosophical thought, leading him to be called a 'philosophical poet.' The poetic material for March is himself: his life, his thoughts, and his intimate experiences. His poetry is a confession of the self, analyzing his inner world.
Epic Poetry and Chivalric Romances
These narratives, often written in various verse forms, served multiple purposes:
- Transmission Channel: They were recited publicly and read privately.
- Thematic Material: They recounted heroic deeds, aiming to demonstrate exemplary conduct. These narratives were inspired by legend and popular fiction, seeking to entertain and provide pleasure.
Chivalric Books (Llibres de Cavalleries)
These prose works, often written in Castilian, are characterized by an abundance of marvelous and improbable elements. They present a world of errant knights and mysterious adventures, where the knight strives to achieve honor and virtue in remote, often fantastical, locations.
Chivalric Novels (Novelles Cavalleresques)
By the 15th century, chivalric narratives underwent a significant change, introducing a more human dimension to the knight. They featured realistic and plausible arguments, set within known and familiar environments.
Bernat Metge and Italian Humanism
Writers like Bernat Metge were instrumental in assimilating and integrating Italian humanism into Catalan literature.