Description
Spanish Poetics
Book Summary
This anthology brings together fundamental essays on Spanish poetry written between the 15th and 17th centuries. Through the voices of Enrique de Villena, Juan de la Encina, Cristóbal de Castillejo, Juan de la Cueva, and Lope de Vega, the reader gains access to a lively debate regarding the nature, forms, and rules of the poetic art. An essential work for understanding the evolution of lyric poetry in the Castilian language and the aesthetic tensions that marked its development during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
What is it about?
Spanish Poetics is a compendium of theoretical and critical texts that reflect upon the poetry of their time. The work includes treatises such as the Libro de la ciencia gaya by Enrique de Villena, the Arte de poesía castellana by Juan de la Encina, and the Represión contra los poetas españoles que escriben verso en italiano by Cristóbal de Castillejo, which debates the use of Italian metrics versus the Castilian tradition. Also included are the Ejemplar poético by Juan de la Cueva and the Artes poéticas by Lope de Vega. Each author contributes a unique perspective on what constitutes poetry and how it should be practiced, offering an overview of the aesthetic currents, formal disputes, and literary ideals of the era.
Main Topics
- Theory and poetic precepts of the Spanish Golden Age
- Debate between Italian metrics and the Castilian tradition in poetry
- Definition of poetry and its purposes according to different classical authors
- Evolution of lyric forms between the 15th and 17th centuries
- Literary criticism and aesthetic controversies of the Renaissance and Baroque
Who is it recommended for?
It is aimed at students and specialists in Spanish literature, Hispanic philology, and the history of poetry. It is also of great interest to poets and educated readers who wish to understand the theoretical foundations and debates that shaped lyric poetry in the Castilian language during its most fertile centuries.
What this book offers
- Direct access to foundational texts of Spanish poetic theory, which are difficult to find gathered in a single edition.
- Understanding of the aesthetic keys and controversies that marked the poetry of the Golden Age.
- Divergent perspectives from five key authors that allow for a comparison of different conceptions of the poetic art.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Various Authors
- Publisher: Linkgua Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Classical texts, Poetry
- Collection: Thought
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publication date: May 2025
- Number of pages: 156
- Weight: 100 g
Editorial Review
This anthology offers a rigorous selection of essays that illuminate the poetic thought of a golden age. Its value lies in bringing together scattered texts and presenting the opposing positions on the form and substance of poetry. It is a useful tool for both academic study and the reader interested in the theoretical roots of Spanish lyric poetry.