The Spanish Golden Age begins with the Renaissance and ends with the Baroque, so that it falls between the 16th and 17th centuries. It is also characterized as a flourishing Catholic period in art and literature. We can identify three literary genres within the golden age: the narrative prose or epic genre, the lyric or poetry and the dramatic or theater. During the golden age there were many authors, however, we are going to talk about the The most important authors of the Golden Age.
Garcilaso de la Vega
He was born in Toledo, the exact date is not known, but it ranges between 1491 and 1503. And he died in Nice, Duchy of Savoy on October 14, 1536. Garcilaso de la Vega his father was orphaned and for this reason he was carefully educated at the Court, where he met his great friend, the knight Juan Boscán.
The author entered in 1520 to serve King Carlos I. There he learned several languages such as Greek, Latin, Italian and French. In addition, he also learned other arts, such as the art of fencing and playing the zither, harp, and lute.
Garcilaso was a soldier, and as such he fought in the war of the communities of Castile, where he was wounded in the action of Olías del rey. He was injured again in a relief expedition, where this time the fall was serious.
The poet married a sister of Carlos I in 1525 and thus became part of the entourage. He had three loves that marked his life and since then he began to write his first poems. The first notable work he did was an appendix to the Works of Juan Boscán. In addition, he composed more than 40 sonnets, an ode in lyres, two elegies, an epistle, 5 songs, three eclogues, 3 odes, and an epigram in Latin.
Saint Teresa of Jesus
She was born in Ávila on March 28, 1515, which is why this nun is known as Saint Teresa of Avila. She and she died in Alba de Tormes on October 15, 1582. She was a nun and a poet. This nun founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites. In 1614, 30 years after her death, she was beatified, while in 1622 she was canonized and in 1970 she was proclaimed a doctor of the Catholic Church during the pontificate of Paul VI. Likewise, she is considered the summit of Christian experimental mysticism and in the spiritual life of the church one of the great teachers.
In the 19th century they began to value his works more, of which 30 poems have been preserved. In these works he touches various genres: lyrical poetry, Christmas carols, works of saints such as Saint Andrew, Saint Hilary and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. While other works are inspired by everyday events of convent life. One of his best works is the path of perfection or meditations on the songs.
Saint John of the Cross
He was born in Fontiveros, Ávila on June 24, 1542 and died in Úbeda, Jaén on December 14, 1591. He was a religious and mystical poet who reformed the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He was also a co-founder of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites with Saint Teresa of Jesus.
It is considered together with Saint Teresa of Jesus the Christian experimental mystical summit. Several poets also considered the poems of Saint John of the Cross the summit of poetry in this language and thus became the patron saint of poets in the spanish language. Furthermore, he is one of the doctors of the church and was canonized in 1756 by Benedict XIII.
His works always focused on a theological and literary perspective. Poetry in San Juan de la Cruz stands out with works such as Dark Night, Spiritual Song and Living Flame of Love. The first two being the most prominent.
miguel de cervantes
He was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547 on September 29 and died in Madrid on April 22, 1616. He was a novelist, poet, playwright and soldier. Considered the greatest figure in literature.
One of his best novels is known in universal literature as a key historical work for all times, such as the ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha. This book is the most edited and translated in history, and has had such an impact that for this work it has been given the nickname “Príncipe de los ingenios”.
Another of his best-known works was the journey of parnassus Composed of chained triplets. It also highlights Cervantes’ vocation for the theater, for which he wrote interesting comedies.
Learn more about Miguel de Cervantes:
Luis de Gongora
He was born in Córdoba on July 11, 1561 and died in the same place on May 23, 1627. He was a poet and playwright of great influence not only in his time but also beyond, because he was perpetuated as culteranismo or gongorismo by later generations of writers and intellectuals.
His poetry is grouped in minor and major poemscomposed numerous inspirational romances such as that of Angelica and Medoro. She was very important in baroque literature, also, in accumulation of conceptual games, misunderstandings, paranomasias and hyperboles. As a playwright he composed three theatrical pieces: Isabela’s firmness, Venatorian Comedy and Doctor Carlino.
Lope de Vega
He was born in Madrid in 1562 on November 25 and died in Madrid in 1635 on August 27. He was a poet and playwright considered one of the most important, also one of the most prolific authors of world literature.
He wrote three thousand sonnets, three novels, nine epics, three didactic poems and hundreds of comedies. Among his best known works are Fuenteovejuna or The Dog in the Manger.
Tirso de Molina
He was born in Madrid in 1579 on March 24 and died in Almazán on February 20, 1648. He was a playwright, poet, Baroque narrator and Mercedarian religious, who stands out mainly as a dramatic author. One of his best works was The Trickster of Seville.
Francisco de Quevedo
He was born in Madrid on September 14, 1580 and died in Villanueva de los Infantes, Ciudad Real in 1645 on September 8. He was one of the best writers, known mainly for writing poems, narrative, theater.
He also wrote various philosophical, political, moral, accentuated, humanistic and historical opuscules. His best known works were The Spanish Parnassus or First part of the flowers of illustrious poets.
Pedro Calderon de la Barca
He was born in Madrid in 1600 on January 17 and died in Madrid on May 25, 1681. Writer and priest, known mainly for his magnificent plays that have survived to this day causing an impact on society that continues to come to see his works represented. Calderon de la Barca He became a knight of the Order of Santiago.
As for what interests us most, which is precisely his theatrical work, to write it and set it based on three themes: honor, love and religion. This is how titles like El mayor of Zalamea or Life is a dream, among many other titles that make him worthy of his prestige and admiration in literature. These works make Calderón de la Barca one of the most important Golden Age authors.
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