Spanish Literature of the 15th Century: Poetry & Humanism

Spanish Literature in the 15th Century

In this century, the invention of the printing press arrived in several Spanish cities.

Humanism in Spain

Humanism surged in Spain, characterized by the following features:

• Retrieval of knowledge: It retrieves the knowledge of Greece and Rome.
• Anthropocentric culture: An anthropocentric culture that places man at the center of life, of all knowledge, and of the arts.
• Dignity of language: Humanists fight for the dignity of the language.

Cultural Focus in the 15th Century

Italian Literature Influence

Italian literature is the foundation of all allegory written in this century. Lyrical influence is felt far and wide. Courtly love poetry of Provençal origin is the basis of the cancioneros (songbooks). Latin literature and its authors are present in the works of the most cultured writers.

The Cancioneros (Songbooks)

Castilian and Aragonese songbooks appeared. Poetry under the influence of Provençal lyricists proliferated, and many songbooks (cancioneros) were collected. The first songbook published by the printing press was the Cancionero General, published in 1511. The theme was mainly amorous.

The courtly love code proclaimed:

• "The poet-lover is devoted entirely to a lady without expecting anything in return."
• "The subjection of love ennobles the lover."
• "The lady is of a superior class."
• "The lady is an angelic being."

This existed as a literary topic, which did not prevent actual behaviors from being very different. The verses used are of minor art (arte menor) and major art (arte mayor). It reflected not only learned poetry but also traditional lyrics.

The Ballads (Romances)

The Romancero is a set of romances: epic and lyrical poems with an indefinite number of octosyllabic (eight-syllable) lines, with assonance rhyme in even-numbered lines. This is a form of traditional poetry.

Origins of the Ballads

• Traditionalist Theory: Romances originate from the cantares de gesta (epic poems). The romance verse comes from dividing the epic verse into two.
• Individualist Theory: Ballads are composed by specific, though often anonymous, authors. The earliest romances do not have epic themes.

Old and New Ballads

• Old Ballads (Romances Viejos): These feature verses of 8 or 9 syllables, assonance rhyme, and sometimes a refrain (estribillo). They are classified as:
  • Historical Romances on national themes
  • Historical Romances on foreign themes
  • Border and Moorish Romances (romances fronterizos y moriscos)
  • Lyrical Romances
• New Ballads (Romances Nuevos): Written by educated authors in imitation of the old style, such as Luis de Góngora.

Transmission of Romances

They are transmitted orally. The stories are shorter and more essential due to truncation (leaving only the beginning and the conflict of the story, omitting the final resolution). A great part of their success lies in knowing when to remain silent (saber callar a tiempo).

Survival of Romances

They have been preserved and adapted by learned poets, and were widely cultivated by later writers, including Romantic poets, Antonio Machado, and Federico García Lorca.