Spanish Literary Heritage: From Rosalia de Castro to Cervantes

Rosalia de Castro: Romanticism and Galician Rexurdimento

Romanticism, in its political dimension, involved the awakening of national consciousness. Two key examples were the Catalan Renaixença and the Galician Rexurdimento. While writers like Jacint Verdaguer, Bonaventura Carles Aribau, and others restored the status of Catalan culture and language, making it capable of polite literature, in Galicia, Rosalia de Castro and poets such as Manuel Curros Enríquez were instrumental in producing significant literary works in Galician. Manuel Murguía, Rosalia's husband, was an important historian of Galician heritage, and it is sometimes suggested that his prominence may have overshadowed Rosalia's own contributions to Galician culture. Rosalia de Castro's first two books of poetry, Cantares Gallegos (1863) and Follas Novas (1880) [New Leaves], both written in Galician, significantly strengthened the Rexurdimento. However, after a controversy widely reported in the press of the time, Rosalia de Castro vowed not to write in Galician again. Consequently, En las orillas del Sar (1884) [On the Banks of the Sar], her third book, was written in Castilian Spanish.

Erasmus: Humanism and Religious Reform

Erasmus represents the archetype of the humanist, and his influence was profound both religiously and culturally. He advocated for a more intimate and tolerant religion, criticizing external religious practices and dogmatism.

The Counter-Reformation in Spain

The Counter-Reformation began during the reign of Philip II, ushering in a cultural era characterized by distrust and isolation from much of Europe. As the Lutheran movement spread, Spain allied itself with the Papacy, becoming a staunch defender of Catholicism.

Miguel de Cervantes: Literary Legacy

Miguel de Cervantes wrote stories, plays, and poetry, but he stands out as the best narrator of his time, primarily thanks to Don Quixote. Cervantes's work is varied, encompassing all genres, forms, and models of the era, and is characterized by its ironic and liberal spirit.

Cervantes's Theater

Cervantes is noted for his entremeses, which are short, humorous theatrical pieces. He also wrote tragedies and comedies.

Chivalric Romances

Chivalric romances set their action in the Middle Ages, with the protagonist typically being an epic knight-hero. Erasmian novels often criticized chivalry for its perceived sensuality.

Pastoral Novels

Pastoral novels tell stories of love between shepherds, set in a bucolic landscape, often inspired by Virgil. Cervantes's La Galatea is a notable pastoral novel.

Byzantine Novels

Byzantine novels feature adventurous plots with a pair of lovers, often of noble or 'athletic' lineage, facing trials and tribulations.

Moorish Novels

Moorish novels develop an idealized action set in the Muslim world, with the protagonist typically a brave and gallant Moor.

Lazarillo de Tormes: Picaresque Novel

Lazarillo de Tormes, an anonymous work published in the final years of Charles V's reign, introduced a new kind of narrative: the picaresque novel. This literary current represents the critical and realistic novel of the sixteenth century. Told as an autobiographical epistle, this work offers a critical and disillusioned social and religious vision. Its natural style is simple and colloquial, maintaining a realistic tone.