Valencian Literary Traditions: Baroque Poets and Language Defense

Lyric Poetry in the Traditional Local SGL XVII

The equilibrium breaks in the 16th century. The town maintains the primary literary language classes while high levels adopt the traditional Castilian. Lyric poetry is determined by:

• The actual sender
• The receiver
• The linguistic code
• The channel (oral)
• The message with scarce originality

Its purpose ranges from hyperbolic humoristic aims to educational, recreational, or servile appeasement to power. Compositions include: carols, tambourine songs, courtship rounds, dawn songs, harvest celebrations. It functions to expose defects.

The Cultured Poets of the Baroque

Francesc Vicent Garcia

Vallfogona, chancellor, traveled to Madrid and won popularity at court. He made his own poetic themes and genres from Castilian Baroque literature. A poet proficient in versification, he created elegant and artificial poetry, sonnets, and decimals, with ironic and burlesque Castilian forms. His compositions are obscene and burlesque, with a festive and witty tone. His poetry was imitated, giving rise to vallfogonisme.

Francesc Fontanella

Wrote lyrical compositions and dramatic works. Notable works include Nisei, Sonnet's Death, and The Disillusion.

Romance (Narrative Verse)

A joint transmission of oral tradition collected by Mila Fontanals and María Aguilar. Themes include historical narratives, legends, love, burlesque, and religious customs.

Traditional Fables

Collected from the oral tradition in the 19th century by Amades, and valued in the 20th century by Henry Joseph Pfeifer.

Proverbs, Sayings, and Maxims

Messages concerning weather, seasons, human relations, crafts, and harvest customs. Carlos Ros compiled Sayings and Trafficking of Valencia and Sayings.

Luis Galiana

A Black Friar, one of our few 18th-century narrative growers, concerned with the use of our language. Works include Valencian-Castilian Dictionary, Tale of Tales, and Caricature Strings of Proverbs, Sayings, and Slogans.

The Condition of the 18th Century Language

Theater

John Bosco, Gaspar Gil Polo, Pere Antoni, and Martín de Viciana used Spanish. Cristoforo Despuig's Lay the City of Tortosa Insigne defended the proper language. The Valencian theater satirized gallant members and court politicians.

Luis Milán

Wrote The Court: a monologue filled with pieces in verse, plays, and spicy news.

Joan Ferrandis

Wrote The Dress.

Religious Drama by Joan de Timoneda

Includes The Militant Church and The Castle of Emmaus (bilingual).