Mester de Juglaría and Mester de Clerecía Explained

Mester de Juglaría

The term Mester means trade. Therefore, Mester de Juglaría refers to the profession of the minstrels, who were responsible for composing and reciting stories. These minstrels were also known for their creative works.

Characteristics of Epic Poetry

The stories told by minstrels often recounted the deeds of popular heroes or warriors. These narratives were composed in verse and are known as epics.

• Anonymous: They have no known author.
• Verse: They are written in verse.
• Oral Tradition: They were intended to be sung or recited and were transmitted orally from father to son.

Mester de Clerecía

The Mester de Clerecía emerged in the thirteenth century. Clerics, aware that most people did not understand Latin, chose to write in Castilian to instruct and share their knowledge with the common people.

Key Features

• Language: Uses cultivated and careful language.
• Form: Written in verse.
• Purpose: The work is didactic, meaning it is written to teach.
• Themes: Primarily religious, often inspired by Greek and Roman traditions.
• Respect for Books: Authors held a deep respect for written sources.
• Cuaderna Vía: Exclusively used a verse form called cuaderna vía.

This stanza consists of four lines of 14 syllables, known as Alexandrines, which share the same rhyme.

Gonzalo de Berceo

He is the first known Castilian poet. Born in the late twelfth century in Berceo (La Rioja), he was educated at the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla and Santo Domingo de Silos, where he served as an administrator and notary for the Abbot. He attended the University of Palencia and is believed to have died in 1264.

His most important work is Milagros de Nuestra Señora, which consists of twenty-five poems recounting the miracles of the Virgin. His poetry is spontaneous, simple, and charmingly primitive.

Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita

Living during the fourteenth century, he was likely born in Alcalá de Henares. He served as the archpriest of Hita (Guadalajara) and was imprisoned for unknown reasons. Based on his writings, he appears to have been a cheerful, well-read man who enjoyed life.

His only surviving work is the Book of Good Love, a collection of highly varied poems. He recounts his real or feigned love affairs in the first person, interspersed with lyrical poems dedicated to the Virgin, mountain songs, student songs, stories, and fables. While the work is dominated by the cuaderna vía, he also utilizes other verse forms. Although the author claims he wrote the book to help people avoid "mad love," the text is filled with accounts of his affairs with all sorts of women.