Showing posts with label Spanish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spanish. Show all posts

Sunday, 24 July 2011

Spanish Literature


Through my Spanish essay I would like to express my view that, one of the most interesting things is to research about different kinds of people, culture, etc. The earlier works of the Spaniard (this is how the people of Spain are called as) found the existence of Castilian language earlier.

All the books were not written in this language. When there was Hispania (a name given to Iberian Peninsula by the Romans) the books were in Latin. Until 5th century they continued writing in Latin. Alfonso X who was the ruler and the person who believed to have started the Castilian language has written a book on the code of laws. His works include Fuero Real and Siete Partidas. He also composed a music called cantiqas de Santa Maria.

Another famous work was Cantar de Mio Cid written in 1140 but the identity of the author remains a mystery till now. This epic was written in assonance instead of rhyme. This consists of 3 parts which is known as cantos. The Mester de Julgaria is a form written in minstrels. These were done to educate the people through the poem. In 13th century Mester de Clericia became famous. It is composed of 14 syllabuses with consonantal rhyme. Spanish prose was popular in the middle of that century. El Conde Lucanor is a shorty story written by Don Juan Manuel who is the nephew of Alfhosa X (father of Spanish prose).

A famous lyricist who definitely needs a mention in any Spanish essay was Juan Ruiz. His only work was Libro de buen amor which has certain translated poems called serranillus. Poet Lopez de Mendoza became familiar with his works Dante and Petrarch. The last poet of this age was Jorge Manrique who wrote Coplas a la muerte de su padre which depicts the death of his father.

During the 15th century, pre - Renaissance occurred. Here the principal was to learn from the classical sources, the development in painting and the improvements in science. The features of renaissance include the following.

o Simplicity and the natural form of writing were given importance. Over stretched things were neglected.

o The preferred themes were love, pagan mythology, nature, etc.

o 'Take advantage of the moment' was a translation by carpe diem which speaks about the importance of the enjoyment of life before we get old.

o The beauty of life and the danger that came along with life were explained.

o The nature is also described in detail in many of the works.

The 17th century literature is called the Baroque. This is characterized by pessimism, pass time, dissolution and loss of acceptance of renaissance.

In 18th century 3 phrases are differentiated. They are

o Anti-baroquism until middle 17th century

o Neoclassicism upto 18th century

o Pre- romanticism 18th to 19th century

My Spanish essay has to stop here but the Spanish literature continued to romanticism and realism, were the objectives took the literature to the modern times.








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Saturday, 23 July 2011

Learn Spanish Abroad: Latin American Literature Part II


Those who choose to learn Spanish abroad will be left with the ability to enjoy a great wealth of literature in its native language. When many people first think of Latin American literature, magical realism and the work by Gabriel Garcia Marquez first comes to mind. However, the region has a long-standing, vibrant history of literature, which spans a variety of styles and genres. If you are planning to study Spanish in Argentina, Chile or Peru, it only makes sense to become familiar with this rich literary history ahead of time.

The literature produced in the 19th century is very interesting to examine. Much of the work focused on exploring the national identity. Some of the most famous works are Facundo written by Argentinean Domingo Sarmiento and Cumanda written by Ecuadorian writer Juan Leon Mera. Another work in the 19th century canon is the epic poem Martin Fierro, written by Jose Hernandez.

Later in the 19th century, modernismo emerged. This literary movement sought to have an influence on literature outside Latin America. Many writers were originally from the region, but lived in other parts of the world and sought to introduce their writing to various countries.

Of course, most students who learn Spanish abroad are well acquainted with the famous poet Pablo Neruda. Neruda was a Chilean writer and Nobel laureate who wrote a great deal about love as well as politics. Other popular Latin American poets include Nicolas Guillen and Ernesto Cardenal.

In the 1960's, the literature in Latin America changed a great deal, and this time period is considered to be a "literary boom." Writers began to use a variety of styles and looked to cross boundaries with their works with experimental structures and non-linear writing. Not just political issues, but also metaphysical themes began to be explored. Some of the most popular writers to emerge during this period include Augusto Roa Bastos and his work Yo el supreme, as well as works by Mario Vargas Llosa and Carlos Fuentes.

After the boom period, a trend began where writers produced novels that fit into popular genres. Some of the well-known writers include Paulo Coelho, Laura Esquivel and Isabel Allende. Of course, the most famous Latin American author is likely Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 100 Years of Solitude is considered one of the most important works of the 20th century. While you may have already read some of these author's works in English, once you learn Spanish abroad, you will be able to also read them in their native language.

Whether you choose to study Spanish in Argentina or any other Latin American country, the day will quickly come where you can begin to read and understand stories and novels. Oftentimes teachers will introduce these texts in the classrooms. You will be pleasantly surprised that you are able to catch so much more subtlety and richness of poetry and novels when you can read these works in Spanish.




As you learn Spanish abroad be sure to sample the impressive catalog of Latin American literature. With Latin Immersion you can study Spanish in Peru, Argentina, and Chile.





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Friday, 22 July 2011

Learn Spanish Abroad: Latin American Literature Part I


When you learn Spanish abroad, you will find that you learn more than just a new language. When you study Spanish in Peru, Argentina or Chile, you will also find that you learn a great deal about the culture and history of these regions. One way to do accomplish this is through exploring the rich tradition of literature in these countries.

The importance of literature in Latin America can be traced back to the Pre-Columbian days. While literature at this time was primarily passed orally down from generation to generation, there was a strong tradition that was quite important to civilization. Luckily, some of the oral narrative has been preserved to this day. Typically, this very early literature deals with mythology and religion.

If you are interested in the early history of Latin America, it is also useful to look at literature produced during the colonial period. Much of this text that was written deals with the experiences of the conquistadores and explorers. A few examples are Bernal Diaz del Castillo's account of the conquest of Mexico and Bartoleme de las Casas's Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies. This literature provides the reader with some unique insights into this time period and also issues that surfaced due to colonization.

Of course, it is extremely valuable to read the literature written from the native's accounts as well. If you study Spanish in Peru, you will find that there are some fascinating Peruvian writers in particular. It is useful to read authors include El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Guaman Poma.

El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega was a historian who is often read due to his tremendous contributions to the understanding of the society of the Incans in the 1500's. In fact, this writer is so important to Peruvian culture that the main stadium in Cusco was named after him in the 1950's.

Guaman Poma was an indigenous Peruvian who wrote about how he was unsatisfied with the way the people of the Andes were treated after the Spanish conquest. He wrote the illustrated chronicle Nueva Coronica y Buen. Due to the fact that Poma used Quecha words in this document, it helped scholars later on to learn more about this language. This 1189 page document described various injustices the people faced. It is interesting to note that while the book was addressed to the King of Spain, the King never actually received this document.

When you learn Spanish abroad, you have the benefit of gaining insights into a culture that has a fascinating history. Anyone with an interest in ancient times will find reading this early literature to be an exciting experience. Even if you already know a great deal about Latin American civilization, you will find that your knowledge is heightened even further when you have an experience to read the early literature of the region.




When you attend one of Latin Immersion's Spanish language schools you will have many chances to look into the region's impressive literature. Through the organization you can study Spanish in Argentina, Chile, and Peru.





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