Medieval Spanish literature Spanish literature

1 medieval spanish literature

1.1 kharjas
1.2 cantar de mio cid
1.3 mester de juglaría
1.4 mester de clerecía
1.5 spanish prose
1.6 lyric poetry of middle ages

medieval spanish literature

the kharjas

the earliest recorded examples of vernacular romance-based literature date same time , location, rich mix of muslim, jewish, , christian cultures in muslim spain, in maimonides, averroes, , others worked. jarchas, dating 9th 12th centuries c.e., short poems spoken in local colloquial hispano-romance dialects, known mozarabic, written in arabic script. jarchas appeared @ end of longer poetry written in arabic or hebrew known muwashshah, lengthy glosses on ideas expressed in jarchas. typically spoken in voice of woman, jarchas express anxieties of love, particularly of loss.

this combination of hispano-romance expression arabic script, discovered in 1948, locates rise of spanish literary tradition in cultural heterogeneity characterized medieval spanish society , politics. however, mozarabic language of jarchas appears separate romance language evolution vulgar latin paralleled of castilian spanish rather deriving or fusing latter. hence, while relatively recent discovery of jarchas challenges pride of chronological place belonged long poema del cid (el cantar de mío cid) (1140 ce) in history of spanish literature, cannot seen precursor spain s great epic poem. discovery of jarchas makes clear instead origins, literature of spain has arisen out of , born witness rich, heterogeneous mix of cultures , languages.

cantar de mio cid

the cantar de mio cid oldest preserved spanish cantar de gesta

the epic poem cantar de mio cid written real man—his battles, conquests, , daily life. poet, name unknown, wrote epic in 1140 , cid supposedly died forty years before in 1099. epic represents realism, because nothing exaggerated , details real, geography correctly portrays areas in cid traveled , lived. unlike other european epics, poem not idealized , there no presence of supernatural beings. has assonance instead of rhyme , lines vary in length, common length being fourteen syllables. type of verse known mester de juglaria (verse form of minstrels). epic divided 3 parts, known cantos.

mester de juglaría

medieval spanish poets recognized mester de juglaría literary form written minstrels (juglares) , composed of varying line length , use of assonance instead of rhyme. these poems sung uneducated audiences, nobles , peasants alike.

mester de clerecía

this castilian narrative poetry known mester de clerecía became popular in thirteenth century. verse form of learned poets, clerics (hence name clerecía ). poetry formal, counted syllables in each line. popular themes christian legends, lives of saints , tales classical antiquity. poems cited villagers in public plazas. 2 traits separate form mester de juglaría: didacticism , erudition. gonzalo de berceo 1 of greatest advocates of school, writing on religious subjects.

spanish prose

spanish prose gained popularity in mid-thirteenth century when king alfonso x el sabio of castilla gave support , recognition writing form. he, of groups of intellectuals, directed composition of many prose works including las siete partidas, first modern book of laws of land written in people s language. work la primera crónica general accounted history of spain creation until end of alfonso s father s reign, san fernando. direction of these works , many others directed, alfonso x called father of spanish prose. nephew, don juan manuel famous prose work el conde lucanor frame story or short stories within overall story. in work, conde lucanor seeks advice wise counselor, patronio, gives advice through telling of stories. juan manuel wrote lesser-known works such el libro de los estados on social classes , el libro del caballero y escudero on philosophical discussions. toward end of middle ages, writer fernando del pulgar (1436-1490?) created new type of prose named verbal portrait. form demonstrated pulgar s work claros varones de castilla in represents detailed lives of twenty-four distinguished contemporaries. explores moral , psychological natures physical traits. pulgar official historian of monarchs fernando , isabel, famous catholic monarchs of spain. position gave him close encounters characters in book, making work realistic , detailed.

lyric poetry of middle ages

lyric poetry in middle ages can divided 3 groups: jarchas, popular poems originating folk-songs sung commoners, , courtly poetry of nobles. alfonso x el sabio fits third group series of 3 hundred poems, written in galician: las cantigas de santa maría. poet, juan ruiz, or arcipreste de hita outstanding lyricist of fourteenth century. work, libro de buen amor framework tale in includes translations ovid, satires, little poems called serranillas, twenty-nine fables, sermon on christian armor, , many lyric poems praise virgin mary. poet Íñigo lópez de mendoza, marqués de santillana (1398–1458), begins show movement away traditions of middle ages. shows knowledge of latin authors , familiarity works of dante , petrarch. mendoza first introduce sonnet spanish literature. last great poet of middle ages jorge manrique. famous work laments death of father, coplas la muerte de su padre. in piece, manrique shows classical feelings expressing himself in universal manner (all things come end). still considered poet of middle ages in finds peace , finality in religion.