Spanish Renaissance Literature and 15th Century Grammar

The 15th Century: A Transition to the Renaissance

During the Siglo XV, the pillars of Christianity and feudalism began to crumble. This period of transition brought significant changes while maintaining some traditional ideas. The Renaissance emerged as a crisis for the old order, giving rise to a new social class: the bourgeoisie.

Humanism and the New Mentality

The world was no longer seen as a place of suffering, but as a place to be enjoyed (vitalism and anthropocentrism). Religious currents shifted toward internal spirituality. Humanism became essential, promoting worldly values and an individualistic mentality during the Prerrenacimiento.

Cultural Diffusion

This new culture was spread through several means:

• The creation of universities.
• Patrons who turned palaces into cultural centers.
• The printing press (1450) and the use of the Castilian language as a vehicle for culture.

Pre-Renaissance Literature

Cultured and Courtly Poetry

The Cancionero poetry of the 15th century mimics 12th-century Provençal lyrics. It includes:

• Amorous poetry.
• Allegorical poetry: Philosophical and moralizing themes using mythology and Latin poetic cultisms.
• Romances: A new poetic genre.

The Evolution of the Novel

• Chivalric Novels: Featuring idealistic and unlikely knights-errant.
• Sentimental Novels: A mixture of courtly poetry and chivalry, such as Cárcel de Amor.

The Spanish Romances

Originating from epic fragments, juglares (minstrels) selected the most emotional and dramatic parts to be passed down orally. These romances are characterized by repetitions, parallelism, and direct calls to the listener.

Key Figures of the 15th Century

Marqués de Santillana and Jorge Manrique

The courtier poet emerged, catering to new readers who wanted learned songs in Castilian. Jorge Manrique (1440-1479), a famous soldier and poet, is renowned for his Verses on the Death of His Father.

La Celestina

Written by Fernando de Rojas (1476-1541) in Toledo, this tragicomedy bridges the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Originally a humanistic comedy intended to be read, its central theme is the love between Calisto and Melibea.

Summary: Calisto enters an orchard to retrieve a hawk and falls madly in love with Melibea. He seeks help from Celestina, who uses a potion and a magic thread to make Melibea fall in love. After receiving a gold chain as payment, Celestina is murdered by Sempronio and Pármeno. Calisto dies falling from a ladder, and Melibea commits suicide, leaving her father, Pleberio, in despair.

Spanish Grammar: Perífrasis Verbales

Aspectual Periphrasis

• Ingressive (Beginning): ir a, estar a punto de, empezar a, echarse a, romper a, llegar a + infinitive.
• Durative (Development): estar, ir, venir + gerund.
• Repetitive: soler, volver a + infinitive.
• Resultative (Completed): acabar de, llegar a + infinitive; llevar, tener + participle.

Modal Periphrasis

• Possibility and Probability: poder + infinitive; deber de, venir a + infinitive.
• Obligation: tener que, haber de, deber, haber que + infinitive.

The Adverb and Its Functions

Adverbs can indicate place, time, manner, affirmation, denial, doubt, or quantity. Their functions include:

• Circumstantial complement of a verb.
• Sentence modifier (e.g., Desgraciadamente).
• Adjective modifier (e.g., Muy + adjective).
• Adverb modifier (e.g., Muy cerca, muy bien).