Troubadour Poetry and Renaissance Literature in Spain

Troubadour Poetry in Provence

Troubadour poetry emerged in the courts of Provence in the twelfth century, gaining prominence in the thirteenth century. These poems were composed and performed by troubadours, sometimes with the assistance of minstrels. The courts provided patronage to these poets, offering them sustenance in exchange for songs that praised women, describing their beauty and the prevailing customs of courtly love.

Ausias March, from Valencia, wrote in a style reminiscent of Dante Alighieri, emphasizing the beauty and spirituality of women. Francesco Petrarca composed songbooks, particularly sonnets, celebrating the beauty of Laura, his unattainable love.

Fifteenth-Century Castilian Lyric Poetry

This era saw the rise of the cancionero, collections of poems often dealing with the beauty of a beloved lady. Notable figures include:

• Jorge Manrique
• Íñigo López de Mendoza, Marquis of Santillana
• Juan de Mena

Fifteenth-Century Popular Lyric Poetry: Romances

Romances were popular ballads performed by minstrels, passed down through generations. By the late fifteenth century, these were increasingly written down. These romances fell into several categories:

• Epic: Tales of heroes and Carolingian legends
• Border Romances: Stories of the frontier
• Breton Romances: Arthurian legends
• Moorish Romances: Depictions of Arab princes and warriors from Granada
• Lyrical and Romantic Romances

The Renaissance in Spain

The Renaissance began in Italy during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, spreading to most European countries by the sixteenth century. Its central focus was on humanity and earthly life, giving rise to the ideology of Humanism. Key tenets of Renaissance Humanism include:

• Man as the center of the universe
• Emphasis on human value and earthly life
• Belief in man's capacity to dominate the world
• Harmonious development of mind and body
• Power of reason and intelligence
• Seeking beauty through symmetrical proportions
• Interest in the natural world
• Revival of Greco-Latin ideals

Spanish Literature in the Renaissance

First Phase

Spain incorporates ideas from abroad, exemplified by the realistic novel Lazarillo de Tormes, a new narrative genre: the picaresque novel.

Second Phase

Spain becomes more insular, focusing on the defense of Catholicism in Europe.

Themes

• Divine love
• Human love, seen as a sentiment to improve individuals
• Nature
• Greco-Latin sentiments
• Patriotism

Epilogue

The pastoral poet embodies these themes, expressing a love of beauty and harmony.

Values of 'Se'

• Verbal: Form-pronominal
• Reflexive
• Reciprocal
• Morpheme-verbal: arrepentirse (to regret)
• Passive Reflexive: Se disclosed noticia (The news is disclosed)
• Impersonal Reflexive: Does not change the verb
• Ethical or of interest