Summary of Movements: Troubadourism and Humanism

Movements: Troubadourism and Humanism | Traditional Summary

Contextualization

Trovadorism emerged in the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 14th centuries, in a context marked by feudalism and the strong influence of the Catholic Church. This literary movement was characterized by the production of sung poetry, known as cantigas, which were divided into three main categories: cantigas of love, cantigas of friend, and cantigas of scorn and malevolence. The cantigas of love reflected romantic vassalage and the idealization of the lady; the cantigas of friend gave voice to women’s laments about the absence of their beloved; and the cantigas of scorn and malevolence used humor and social criticism to address themes from medieval everyday life.

In turn, Humanism emerged at the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, in the 14th and 15th centuries, representing a transition to a more anthropocentric view of the world, valuing the human being and its rational capacities. This movement prepared the ground for the Renaissance, promoting the study of Greco-Roman classics and encouraging the production of literary prose, such as chronicles and plays. Humanist literature was notable for its critical and objective analysis of historical and social events, reflecting the change in perspective that valued rationality and human dignity.

Characteristics of Trovadorism

Trovadorism was a literary movement that developed during the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 14th centuries. It was characterized by the production of sung poetry, known as cantigas, which were divided into three main categories: cantigas of love, cantigas of friend, and cantigas of scorn and malevolence. The cantigas of love were marked by the idealization of the lady and romantic vassalage, where the troubadour placed himself in a position of submission to his beloved. The cantigas of friend, on the other hand, gave voice to women’s laments, where a woman (the friend) expressed her longing and sadness over the absence of her beloved. Meanwhile, the cantigas of scorn and malevolence used humor and social critique to address themes from medieval everyday life, often veiled (scorn) or direct (malevolence). Medieval culture and the strong influence of the Catholic Church profoundly shaped these literary productions, reflecting the values and customs of the time.

• Production of sung poetry divided into cantigas of love, friend, and scorn and malevolence.

• Influence of medieval culture and the Catholic Church.

• Reflection of the values and customs of feudal society.

Examples of Troubadour Cantigas

Examples of troubadour cantigas are essential for understanding the characteristics of this literary movement. Cantigas of love, for example, often present a troubadour who, in a reverent and submissive tone, declares his love for a lady of higher social status. A classic example is the cantiga of love by Dom Dinis, where he exalts the qualities of the lady and laments the impossibility of consummating his love. The cantigas of friend, in contrast, are marked by the female voice lamenting the absence of her beloved. A notable example is the cantiga of friend by Martim Codax, where the friend eagerly awaits the return of her beloved. The cantigas of scorn and malevolence are known for their satirical and critical tone. An example is the cantiga of scorn by João Garcia de Guilhade, who veiledly criticizes the behaviors of certain social figures. These examples illustrate the distinct themes and styles of troubadour cantigas, showcasing the richness and diversity of medieval literary production.

• Cantigas of love: troubadour declares reverent and submissive love.

• Cantigas of friend: female voice laments the absence of the beloved.

• Cantigas of scorn and malevolence: satirical and critical tone.

Characteristics of Humanism

Humanism was a literary and cultural movement that emerged at the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was characterized by valuing the human being and its rational capabilities, in contrast to the theocentric view predominant in the Middle Ages. Humanists promoted the study of Greco-Roman classics, believing that these ancient texts contained wisdom and universal values that could illuminate contemporary human experience. Humanist literature stood out for producing prose, especially chronicles and plays, that reflected a critical and objective analysis of historical and social events. This movement prepared the ground for the Renaissance, profoundly influencing Western art, science, and philosophy. The change in perspective brought by Humanism emphasized human dignity, the quest for knowledge, and the importance of education, principles that shaped modern culture and thought.

• Valuing the human being and rationality.

• Study of Greco-Roman classics.

• Literary production in prose, such as chronicles and theater.

Examples of Humanist Works

Examples of humanist works are essential for understanding the depth and impact of this literary movement. Fernão Lopes, one of the main humanist chroniclers, is known for his detailed and objective chronicles about the history of Portugal. His work 'Chronicle of King D. Pedro I' is a notable example, where Lopes describes historical events with a focus on portraying facts in a rational and objective manner, reflecting humanist characteristics. Another example is the theater of Gil Vicente, which combined elements of medieval theater with a new critical and humanist view of society. His plays, such as 'Auto da Barca do Inferno', used humor and satire to critique human behaviors and reflect on moral and social issues. These examples illustrate how Humanism influenced literary production by promoting a critical and objective analysis of events and valuing human dignity and the quest for knowledge.

• Fernão Lopes and his detailed and objective historical chronicles.

• Gil Vicente and the critical and humanist theater.

• Critical and objective analysis of historical and social events.

Comparison between Trovadorism and Humanism

The comparison between Trovadorism and Humanism highlights the differences in themes, literary forms, and historical and cultural contexts of these two movements. Trovadorism, situated in the medieval context, reflected the influence of the Catholic Church and the values of feudal nobility through cantigas of love, friend, and scorn and malevolence. These cantigas were sung poetry that addressed themes such as romantic vassalage, longing, and social critique. In contrast, Humanism, which emerged at the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, promoted an anthropocentric and rationalist view of the world. Humanist literature was distinguished by prose production, such as chronicles and theater, that critically analyzed historical and social events. While Trovadorism valued idealization and romantic submission, Humanism emphasized human dignity, the quest for knowledge, and the importance of education. This change in perspective was reflected in how literary texts were produced and appreciated, profoundly influencing the evolution of Western literature.

• Trovadorism: medieval influence, values of feudal nobility, sung poetry.

• Humanism: anthropocentric and rationalist view, prose production, critical analysis.

• Thematic, literary form, and historical and cultural context differences.

To Remember

• Trovadorism: Medieval literary movement characterized by the production of cantigas.

• Humanism: Literary and cultural movement of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, valuing human beings and rationality.

• Cantigas of Love: Lyric poems expressing the romantic vassalage of the troubadour towards a lady.

• Cantigas of Friend: Lyric poems where a female voice laments the absence of the beloved.

• Cantigas of Scorn and Malevolence: Satirical poems criticizing social behaviors either veiled (scorn) or direct (malevolence).

• Renaissance: Transitional period that succeeded Humanism, marked by the valorization of the arts, sciences, and humanities.

• Chronicles: Detailed and objective historical narratives typical of humanist literature.

• Theater: Literary and artistic form prominent in Humanism, used to criticize and reflect on social and moral issues.

• Feudalism: Medieval social and economic system that influenced Trovadorism's literary production.

• Anthropocentrism: View placing human beings at the center of concerns, characteristic of Humanism.

• Medieval Literature: Literary production of the Middle Ages, including Trovadorism.

• Renaissance Literature: Literary production of the Renaissance, influenced by Humanism.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored the literary movements of Trovadorism and Humanism, highlighting their main characteristics and differences. Trovadorism, developed between the 12th and 14th centuries, produced cantigas of love, friend, and scorn and malevolence, reflecting the influence of the Catholic Church and the values of feudal society. On the other hand, Humanism, which emerged at the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, valued the human being and rationality, promoting the study of Greco-Roman classics and encouraging prose literary production, such as chronicles and theater.

The comparison between these two movements revealed significant differences in themes, literary forms, and historical and cultural contexts. While Trovadorism prioritized romantic idealization and veiled social critique, Humanism emphasized a critical and objective analysis of historical and social events, preparing the ground for the Renaissance. Understanding these differences is crucial for grasping the evolution of literature and Western thought.

The knowledge gained about Trovadorism and Humanism is fundamental for a deeper appreciation of literature and Western culture. This not only broadens understanding of literary production during these periods but also reinforces the importance of the evolution of human thought and artistic expression throughout history. We encourage students to continue exploring these themes to further enrich their knowledge and literary appreciation.

Study Tips

• Read complete works of troubadours and humanists, such as cantigas by Dom Dinis and chronicles by Fernão Lopes, for a deeper understanding of the characteristics of these movements.

• Watch plays by Gil Vicente or other productions based on humanist texts to observe how Humanism ideas are represented in drama.

• Research other literary movements that succeeded Humanism, such as the Renaissance, to understand the continuity and evolution of literary and cultural thought.