Pere Quart's *Plagiarism Trial*: A Parody of Espriu

Pere Quart's Plagiarism Trial: A Parody

Comparing Quart and Espriu

Pere Quart's Plagiarism Trial at the Tavern is a parody of Salvador Espriu's Song in the Temple Essay, a work reflecting the cultural and spiritual climate during the Franco regime. Both poems share a three-part structure:

1. Part 1 (v. 1-7): The author's situation is explained.
2. Part 2 (v. 8-13): The situation is presented to others.
3. Part 3 (v. 14-20): A conclusion is presented, along with the decision and reasoning.

The key difference lies in tone. Espriu uses a solemn tone, while Quart employs irony and sarcasm. However, both remain faithful to their pàtria. A comparison reveals an opposition in the adjectives used; Espriu's and Quart's choices establish antonymous relationships (e.g., north-south, poor-rich, clean-dirty).

Differing Perspectives

These contrasting resources highlight the authors' differing perspectives. Espriu adopts resignation and loneliness, while Quart favors activism and collectivism. Quart's characteristic vitriolic language and consistently skeptical rationalism prevent his work from being purely lyrical.

Quart's Critical Stance

Quart's critical attitude towards reality leads to irony and sarcasm, used to challenge readers and expose societal imperfections. He targets the bourgeoisie, whom he views as hypocritical. Unlike many authors, Quart maintained his radical, skeptical stance throughout his career.

Circumstances and Pacifism

The poem Circumstances (from the 1986 book) is rooted in pacifism, inspired by Pope John XXIII, the Pope of Peace, who worked to prevent a Third World War during the Cold War. This pacifist sentiment was also fueled by the Vietnam War and the bombing of Hiroshima.