Pre-Baroque Literature and the Works of Fray Luis de León

Pre-Baroque Literature

The Creation of the Essay in France: Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne was a French writer of the second half of the sixteenth century. His chief work, Essays, is a collection of short texts in which the author argues from his direct experience. Unlike other prose writers of his time who based their ideas primarily on existing books, Montaigne utilized his own perspective to provide a personal and human touch. This prose genre created by Montaigne flourished in Spain during the eighteenth century.

Epic Poetry in Portugal: Camões

The principal work of Luís de Camões is a great epic poem entitled The Lusiads. It recounts the expedition of Vasco da Gama, which culminated in the establishment of a new waterway between the Portuguese coast and the East. This narrative serves as a thread to celebrate the glorious past of the Portuguese people.

Latin American Literature

The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, son of a Spanish conquistador and an Inca princess, wrote Royal Commentaries of the Incas, which details the history of Peru. Another notable author is Alonso de Ercilla, who wrote the epic poem La Araucana, detailing the conquest of Chile.

Fray Luis de León

Life

Fray Luis de León was born in Belmonte (Cuenca) in 1527 but lived in Salamanca, where he served as a university professor. He was detained in the prisons of the Inquisition, accused of failing to meet the requirements of the Council of Trent regarding the translation and interpretation of the Bible. After four years in prison, he was acquitted and died in Ávila in 1591.

Work

1 Prose

His prose focuses on the translation and commentary of religious texts. His principal works include:

• The Perfect Wife: A manual containing the rules that a woman should follow to become an ideal wife.
• On the Names of Christ: An analysis of the various names given to Christ in the Bible, written in dialogue form.

2 Poetry

His verse is rooted in autobiographical themes, conceived as a means of approaching God (ascetic poetry). This approach is achieved through various means, such as:

• Fusion with nature in Ode to Retired Life.
• Contemplating the sky on a starry night in Ode to a Calm Night.
• The pleasure of music in Ode to Francisco Salinas.

The work of Fray Luis de León is a synthesis of the Greco-Roman classical tradition and Judeo-Christian thought. He was heavily influenced by Horace and Virgil, whose works he translated, though he drew his primary inspiration from the Bible. Ode to Santiago is an example of his synthesis between pagan and Christian elements.

Style

He maintained an aesthetic ideal of clarity, harmony, and sweetness—qualities achieved through careful selection. Fray Luis subjected all his writings to continual review to achieve the precise expression he desired.