The Renaixença: Catalan Romantic Literature & Verdaguer

Catalan Literature in the 19th Century

Language Context in the 19th Century

During the nineteenth century, confidence in the Catalan language was initially low among the educated classes. However, since the end of the eighteenth century, enlightened individuals and the bourgeoisie rediscovered its potential.

Romanticism Movement in Catalonia

Romanticism arose in Germany and England in the late eighteenth century. It spread throughout Europe, but its arrival in the Iberian Peninsula coincided with a period of decline for the movement elsewhere. It is linked to revolutionary movements.

Core Characteristics of Romanticism

• Dissatisfaction with the real world
• Nostalgia for the past
• Spiritualism and religious subjectivity
• Emphasis on imagination and fantasy
• Search for spiritual harmony with nature

Types of Romantic Literature

• Historical Romanticism: Linked to the revolutionary ideals of the late eighteenth century, later adopting more conservative positions during the nineteenth. It showed dissatisfaction with the present by escaping to other times, valuing spirituality and the worship of nature. Used a cultured, public language.
• Costumbrist Romanticism: Idealized rural life, popular characters, and traditional trades of the past. Attempted to elevate the popular language to a literary standard.

Notable Romantic Authors

Theatre and prose faced more challenges in establishing themselves due to prohibitions on the language. Featured Poets included:

• Manuel Milà i Fontanals
• Marià Aguiló i Fuster
• Teodor Llorente
• Vicenç Wenceslau Querol

The Renaixença: Catalan Cultural Revival

Definition and Driving Causes

The Renaixença represents the opposition to the period of decline (Decadència). It is a period during which the Catalan language returned to cultured literary use. Key causes include:

• Economic recovery of the bourgeoisie
• Efforts by enlightened researchers and scholars
• Dissemination of Romanticism in Catalonia

Key Institutions and Objectives

To recover the language, proposals included:

• Reconstructing medieval history
• Disseminating medieval classics
• Collecting popular literary tradition
• Creating a normative language model

The bourgeoisie also spurred the Renaixença by creating publishing houses, periodicals, and restoring cultural institutions like the Jocs Florals (Floral Games).

Literary Trends: Jocs Florals

Poets of the Glove (Poetes del Guant)

Characterized by:

• An idealized vision of the historical past
• Framed within the context of the Floral Games
• Authors from wealthy bourgeois social classes
• Conservative ideology
• Solid cultural training
• Use of cultured language

Poets of the Espadrille (Poetes de l'Espardenya)

Characterized by:

• Progressive tendency
• Liberal ideas
• Satirical and political poems
• Use of colloquial language
• Authors like Josep Maria Bonilla and Manuel Careta i Vidal (Note: Original text mentioned 'Manuel Gimeno', which might be less prominent or a confusion; Careta i Vidal fits the description better historically).

Jacint Verdaguer: Leading Renaixença Poet

Considered the greatest poet of the Renaixença.

Verdaguer's Life and Major Works

Born into a peasant family, he alternated his studies with farm work. His major works include:

• Epic Poetry: L'Atlàntida, Canigó
• Lyrical Poetry: Idil·lis i cants místics (Idylls and Mystical Songs)
• Religious Poetry
• Prose: Excursions i viatges (Excursions and Travels), Folklore and Tales (Rondalles)

Thematic Traits in Verdaguer's Poetry

His work is characterized by:

• Intimacy
• Nature
• Patriotism
• Religion