Spanish Literary History: From Medieval Poetry to Romanticism

Romantic Lyrical Poetry: 19th Century

The Romantic period began in the first half of the 19th century. At the start of the War of Independence, the reign of Charles IV ended. Following the war, Ferdinand VII was proclaimed king, repealed the constitution, and persecuted liberals. Spanish Romanticism saw significant development during the early reign of Elizabeth II, when liberals unveiled their works. Two generations of poets emerged: José de Espronceda and Mariano José de Larra, who utilized classical forms, and Rosalía de Castro and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, who renewed poetic expression.

Key Romantic Figures

• José de Espronceda (1808–1842): Born in Almendralejo, he dedicated his life to journalism and politics. His most important works include the long poems The Student of Salamanca and The Devil World.
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1837–1870): Born in Seville, he was the primary narrator of the Romantic movement. Orphaned as a child, he lived modestly while contributing to magazines and publishing his famous Legends.

The Baroque Period: 17th Century

The Baroque style emerged in the late 16th century and lasted through most of the 17th century. This movement opposed Renaissance idealism and the Aristotelian concept of nature and mimesis. Baroque expression is defined by paradox and antithesis, heavily influenced by the religious crisis of the Catholic Council of Trent. Two main trends define this era:

Conceptismo and Culteranismo

• Conceptismo: Focused on abstract concepts. Francisco de Quevedo (1580–1645), born in Madrid, was a nobleman, politician, and writer of the Spanish Golden Age. His poetry is classified into moral, metaphysical, love, satirical, and burlesque themes.
• Culteranismo: Characterized by the accumulation of rhetorical devices. Luis de Góngora (1561–1627) is the primary representative. He studied at Salamanca and was linked to ecclesiastical life, though his sole interest remained poetic creation. His work features two styles: a simple, popular style (letrillas and romances) and a complex, minority style (songs, sonnets, and major poems).

Medieval Literature: 12th to 14th Centuries

The oldest specimens of popular poetry are known as jarchas, which are short, anonymous Mozarabic songs. This traditional lyric evolved and flourished in the second half of the 14th century with the rise of the romance. During this time, courtly poetry, known as cancionero poetry, also emerged.

Jorge Manrique (1440–1479)

Manrique belonged to a high-ranking noble family linked to major political and military positions. A soldier and courtier, he died in battle defending the future Queen Isabella during the War of the Castilian Succession. While 50 of his poems survive—mostly focused on love—he is best known for his masterpiece: Coplas a la muerte de su padre (Stanzas on the Death of His Father).