Renaissance & Spanish Baroque Literature: Authors and Themes
The Renaissance: Volver a Nacer
The Renaissance is a large cultural movement that transformed the life of Europe during the sixteenth century. Volver a Nacer = Renaissance.
Humanists: Essential Points
Humanists emphasized classical languages, Latin and Greek, and the value of human knowledge and the world. Their key ideas:
- Classical language studies: Latin and Greek
- Enthusiasm for the world and human knowledge
- The world is worthy of beauty; enjoy life
- Man is the center and measure of the world
Topics in Renaissance Literature
Topics: Love (influence of Petrarch), nature and poetic action situated in spring landscapes, myths and Greco-Latin themes.
Garcilaso de la Vega
Garcilaso de la Vega (1501–1536). Born in Madrid, he participated in various campaigns with Emperor Carlos V. In 1525 he returned home for a time. Platonic love in his personal life was often unrequited. Due to wounds suffered in an assault on a fortress, he died in 1536. Major poetic themes: love, nature and mythology.
Fray Luis de León
Fray Luis de León (1527–1591). In 1572 he was imprisoned for his Spanish translations of the Bible. He died in 1591. Famous works and themes include La vida retirada (the retired life), emphasizing calm and interior reflection.
Baroque (I): Seventeenth-Century Poetry
The Baroque movement was a cultural and ideological development in Spain and in Europe during the seventeenth century. It was a time of crisis and decay; two fundamental traits are pessimism and disillusion — "to live dying every day."
General Traits of Baroque Literature
- Complication and great elaboration: formal literature often difficult to understand
- Search for provocation, amazement and original expression
Themes in Baroque Literature
Many themes were inherited from previous eras; the Baroque treated them with new forms and contrasts, often highlighting decay and tension.
Culteranismo and Conceptismo
- Culteranismo: Emphasis on ornate style, accumulation of complex and artificial metaphors and an elevated lexicon.
- Conceptismo: Focus on conceptual wit and the economy of words; attention to ideas behind the wording.
Luis de Góngora
Luis de Góngora (Córdoba, 1561–1627). His poetry shows two stages: youthful works with abundant traditional stanzas and a mature period with highly crafted, complex verse.
Francisco de Quevedo
Francisco de Quevedo (Madrid, 1580). He served as secretary to powerful figures and was imprisoned during his life. His poems are categorized as philosophical-moral, satirical, amorous and burlesque.
Lope de Vega
Lope de Vega produced compositions of popular character and culture. His dramatic and poetic works aimed to entertain the public and include historical and legendary comedies as well as costumbristas pieces.
Baroque (II): Seventeenth-Century Theater
Main points:
- Mix of comic and tragic elements in the same work
- Breaking the rules of the three unities
- Division of plays into three acts
- Varied meters and introduction of the personaje gracioso (comic sidekick)
- Inclusion of popular songs and dances
Lope de Vega in Theater
Lope's main objective was to entertain the public. His works are categorized as historical and legendary, comedies and costumbristas.
Calderón de la Barca
Calderón de la Barca based his reflection on intellectual and philosophical themes. His works include philosophical dramas, historical legends, dramas of honor, cloak-and-sword comedies and autos sacramentales.