Spanish Golden Age Literature: Baroque and Picaresque Novels

The Realistic Novel

A realistic novel fulfills a social need, arising as a reaction to the idealistic novel. It portrays the society of the time, reflecting real problems. Its characters are of low social status and it often takes place in cities. It serves as both entertainment and social commentary. The picaresque novel is the most representative example of this genre.

Picaresque Novel

The rogue is a humble character, driven to crime by need and hunger. The picaresque novel is often autobiographical, intends to moralize, and provides a critical view of society.

The Baroque Period

Historical Background

• Political Crisis: The political system was characterized by absolute monarchy, with governments often in the hands of favorites.
• Economic Crisis: The lower classes fled to the cities, leading to an increase in crime and begging.
• Social Crisis: There was a general sense of demoralization, pessimism, and distrust.

Baroque Literature

The Baroque period was part of the Spanish Golden Age, a splendid artistic period.

Themes

• Love as a painful experience.
• Moral or philosophical issues, such as reflections on the transience of life.
• Sociological issues related to the inequality and misery of the time.

Style

The style was artificial and complicated, characterized by:

• Culteranismo: A preference for beauty and form, with heavy use of literary devices.
• Conceptismo: A focus on content rather than form.

Drama (Theater)

This was a period of maximum splendor for theater. Comedias were created, originating in the backyards of houses.

Domestic Comedy

• Broke the rigidity of classical theater.
• Mimicked the actions of people.
• Portrayed everyday customs.
• Intended to please all audiences.

Structure

Plays were divided into three acts:

• Act I: Introduction
• Act II: Development
• Act III: Climax and Resolution

Themes

Common themes included love and honor, often mixing tragic and comic elements.

Characters

Typical characters included the gallant, the fool, and the lady.

Authors

• Lope de Vega: The Dog in the Manger
• Calderon de la Barca: Life is a Dream
• Guillem de Castro: The Youth of El Cid

Lyric Poetry

Feature: Literary genius.

Trends:

• Cultured: Complicated development.
• Popular: Simplicity and clarity.

Cultured Poetry

Themes

• Love: Contrasts between joy and pain.
• Disappointment and a critical vision of life.
• Satire: Reflecting society and politics from a critical standpoint.
• Mythology: Scenes from Greco-Roman mythology.

Culteranismo

• Highest Representative: Gongora.
• Prevalent form.
• Use of mythology.
• Language: Cultisms, hyperbatons, and metaphors.
• Wide syntax.
• Abundant adjectives.

Conceptismo

• Exponent: Quevedo.
• Focus on content.
• Syntactic conciseness: Use of ellipsis.
• Condensed expression: Saying the most with the fewest words.
• Use of rhetorical figures of meaning, such as puns, antitheses, and hyperbole.

Popular Poetry

Characterized by carols and letrillas, written clearly and simply.