Spanish Literary Evolution: From Middle Ages to Renaissance

Humanism and the Dawn of the Renaissance

1. Individualism and Progress: The era is defined by individualism, economic profit, and the growing importance of scientific and technological development, all driven by a profound desire for knowledge. 2. A Shrinking World: The world became smaller during this era of great discoveries and the practical application of significant inventions. 3. The Printing Press: The invention of the printing press made books cheaper and more accessible to the general public. 4. Classical Reevaluation: There was a renewed cultivation of literature and the fine arts, marking a return to Greco-Roman antiquity. Works were composed in both Latin and Romance languages.

The Reign of the Catholic Monarchs

5. Historical Milestones: Following the marriage of the Catholic Kings, Spain saw the conquest of Granada and Christopher Columbus's discovery of America in 1492.

The Tradition of Spanish Romances

6. Stylistic Features: This period is characterized by variety, images of nature, repetition, puns, contrasts, euphemisms, polysemy, and short lines. It frequently utilized the chorus, parallel structures, the female voice, and absolute simplicity. 8. The Romancero: The Romancero Viejo is a collection of romances sung at the end of the Middle Ages. The Romancero Nuevo consists of works by cultured poets and oral traditions collected from the 19th century to the present day. 9. Origins: These works originated from the decomposition of the chanson de geste. 10. Traditional Lyric: They possess many features that bring them close to the tunes of traditional lyrics. 11. Epic Formulas: Techniques include repetitions, enumerations, antithesis, and the use of formulas and epithets from Castilian epics. 13. Themes: Common subjects include border conflicts and the Moors, French epic themes, and romantic or lyrical issues.

Educated Lyric and Courtly Love

14. Courtly Poets: Educated lyric involved court poets who composed not only the text but also the music. 15. Courtly Love: This tradition presents the woman as a superior being to whom the poet owes worship, love, and allegiance, mirroring the relationship with a feudal lord. 16. Cancioneros: Key collections include the Cancionero de Baena and Cancionero de Estúñiga, featuring authors such as Santillana, Mena, and Manrique.

Jorge Manrique and the Coplas

17. Elegiac Reflection: Jorge Manrique wrote Verses on the Death of His Father (Coplas a la muerte de su padre). This elegy uses the experience of his father's death to lead the poet to reflect on life and death through the use of the copla de pie quebrado.

Evolution of Spanish Prose

18. Sentimental and Psychological Prose: Prose began to feature characters in conflict with their environment, the analysis of privacy, and the psychological development of distressed protagonists. A key example is Cárcel de Amor (1492), focusing on the theme of love. 19. Books of Chivalry: These were adventure books starring knights, such as the famous Amadís de Gaula.

Early Spanish Theater and La Celestina

20. Dramatic Origins: Early theater included macabre dances, in which death invites people to dance. 21. Religious Plays: The Auto Sacramental was represented during the feast of Corpus Christi. 22. Juan del Encina: He was a fundamental figure in the development of theatrical acts. 23. La Celestina: Published in 1499, the Tragicomedia of Calisto and Melibea originally consisted of 16 acts. It later saw modifications, deletions, and the addition of 5 acts, accompanied by a foreword justifying the changes. 24. Fernando de Rojas: The author was Fernando de Rojas, who served as the Mayor of Talavera de la Reina.