Medieval and Renaissance Spanish Literature: Chivalry, Troubadours, and Ballads

The Legacy of Chivalry in Spanish Literature

The adventures of King Arthur's knights were imitated in Spain and gave rise to the genre known as books of chivalry.

Amadis of Gaul: The Quintessential Knight

The most important book of chivalry is Amadis of Gaul, written by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo and published in 1508. Amadis is a heroic knight who seeks adventure in a world populated by wizards, ladies, and castles. We have clear evidence regarding the love of Oriana. This work served as a model for other books, notably Don Quixote.

Educated Lyric Poetry: From Troubadours to Renaissance

The Rise of Troubadour Poetry (12th-13th Centuries)

Troubadour poetry was born in France in the twelfth century and reached its splendor in the thirteenth. It was learned poetry composed and recited by the minstrels. Troubadours were professional poets who were welcomed at a court, receiving food, shelter, and sometimes money, in exchange for which they should praise the beauty of the lady or women of the court through songs.

Key Figures in Lyric Poetry

• We highlight the Valencian poet Ausiàs March (c. 1397–1459), whose work is almost entirely focused on love.
• Dante Alighieri sings of the beauty and spirituality of women in his principal work, the Divine Comedy, an imaginary journey to the realms beyond.
• Francesco Petrarca (1304–1374), writing in Italian and Latin, sings of the beauty of Laura and the feeling of pain caused by an impossible love. The pain is greater after her death, leading the poet to reflect upon the physical and moral qualities of his beloved.

Castilian Educated Lyric

The method used is the Castilian Rhetorical Educated Lyric. The imitation of Provençal poetry in Castilian led to the poetry of the Cancioneros (songbooks). The production was compiled in these songbooks. These poems primarily focused on the praise of a lady's beauty.

Notable Castilian Poets

• Jorge Manrique: The most important figure in this tradition.
• Íñigo López de Mendoza (1398–1458): A nobleman devoted to politics and writing.
• Juan de Mena (1411–1456): Wrote a great poem called Labyrinth of Fortune.

Popular Lyrics and the Spanish Ballads (Romancero)

Evolution of the Romance

In the fifteenth century, popular lyrics flourished. Interest in the chanson de geste (epic poem) waned, but the epic memories evolved into romances (ballads). Minstrels no longer recited the entire epic poem but only its most striking parts, which the people learned and repeated for generations. At the end of the fifteenth century, romances began to be written down and published in chapbooks. Also appearing was the educated song.

Structure and Style of Romances

The collection of compiled written romances is called the Romancero (Ballads).

• Old Ballads (Romances Viejos): Anonymous romances composed before the sixteenth century.
• New Romances (Romances Nuevos): Romances whose authors are noted.

Meter and Style

• Meter: Romances are composed of octosyllabic lines with assonance rhyme on the odd lines.
• Style: Romances utilized resources typical of oral poetry, such as the use of different verb tenses, repetition, parallelism, and antithesis.

Classification of Romances

Romances are typically categorized by theme:

1. Epic Romances: Deal with Spanish heroes and legends.
2. British Romances (Romances Británicos): About King Arthur, Lancelot, etc.
3. Moorish or Border Ballads (Romances Moriscos o Fronterizos): Featuring Arab princes or the border of Granada; often depict heroes who have lost their kingdom.
4. Lyrical and Romantic Ballads: Combine romantic episodes with poetic and sentimental elements.