What is CULTERANISM and its characteristics

He culteranismo It is a literary style that was born in Spanish territory at the end of the 16th century and that had repercussions until the 17th century. It is framed within baroque period and its name is due to the use of cultisms, that is, cult terms, in all the narrations. It is a movement that was very important in the world of literature and that is why we believe that it is relevant that you know about it.

In this lesson from a PROFESSOR, we are going to explain in detail what is culteranismo and its main characteristics. Are you ready to immerse yourself in the universe of texts and let the letters caress your ears?

He culteranismo is a baroque literary school which derived from conceptism. The authors of this movement recognize themselves as culteranos and put a greater emphasis on form and aesthetics, to leave the content in the background.

As we have mentioned before, this movement appears in Spain at the end of the 16th century and the writers sought to intensify each of the expressions, condense the meanings and use as many cultisms as possible.

On some occasions you will find that Culteranismo is named as Gongorism, thanks to the Cordovan poet Luis de Gongora who was one of the main writers who founded this current. A very similar literary idea developed in other countries as well: in Italy it was known as marinismo, in France as preciosity, and in Great Britain as eufuismo.

The word CULTERANISM In itself, it was created as a derogatory expression from conceptism. He mixes the two words CULT and LUTERANO, to show a concept in which the cultists are the heretics of true poetry.

The main characteristic with which you have to stay is that in culteranismo, the authors put a much greater emphasis on shape and aesthetics that in the content. This movement is characterized by great innovations on the part of the writers, who made many linguistic contributions.

Metaphors, hyperbatism, adjectives, symbols, syntax modifications, and onomatopoeia are often used to arrive at the maximum expression of musicality in each of the verses. The common lexicon was not enough for them, so they used learned synonyms to refer to common words. Some main characteristics of culteranismo They are the ones that we mention below.

A model of conduct is proposed

All the vices and defects of society were criticized in the works of the culteranos, who proposed a model of conduct that went consistent with political ideologyand religious of the time.

They speak pessimistically

The Renaissance sought to mark a change in terms of wars and social inequalities; however, these concepts were still very present in the world, so this theme becomes a much more marked and exaggerated intellectual pessimism.

Talk about stoicism

The works of culteranismo are full of complaints towards vanity, how ephemeral beauty is and how little real importance fame and life in general are.

the world is disappointing

The political situation was not improving in Spain and seemed to be getting worse, which is why pessimism led artists to talk about the importance of eternal salvation and not the temporary one on Earth, since happiness in this world had disappointed them greatly.

They seek satire

Many of the authors of culteranismo seek laugh at reality through picaresque novels full of sarcasm and criticism.

They escaped from reality

The reality was so humiliating that the authors chose to abandon it and escape by narrating the stories and past feats. They also represented an ideal world where problems are able to be resolved through dialogue and order prevails in the streets.

Other characteristics of culteranismo

These are some other characteristics of culteranismo that they were not the main ones in all the works, but they did have a presence in some of the poetry and writings of the time:

• The texts are worked a lot through the lexical latinisms, since they use very powerful cultisms in their sonority and that were completely out of use in everyday language.
• The adjectives epithets that refer to the senses, especially when they spoke of color. For example: instead of the red color they referred to scarlet, the blue color was changed to cerulean, etc.
• Are used syntactic latinisms like hyperbaton at times when it is not necessary. That is to say, the natural order of the sentences in Spanish is inverted, to give it a more cultured and elaborate appearance.
• They used many bold metaphors and that they had never been seen until the time.
• Are used Word games constantly.

In the first stanzas of Fable of Polyphemus and Galatea de Góngora, mythological references appear, changes of order in the syntax, excessive adjectives and the change of name of the colors. Can you identify all the characteristics of culteranismo What have we explained to you in the previous section?

"These that he dictated to me, sonorous rhymes,

Cultured yes, although bucolic Talía,

O exalted Count, in the purple hours

That the dawn is roses and the day is rosicler,

Now that your fog doras of light,

Listen, to the sound of my zampoña,

If the walls no longer see you from Huelva

Comb the wind, fatigue the jungle.

Hardened polish in the master hand

The generous bird its feather,

Or so mute in the alcándara, that in vain

Even denying the rattle presumes;

Tascando make the brake of white gold

From the Andalusian horse the idle foam;

The greyhound wails in the silken cord,

And to the horn at last the zither happens."

We hope this lesson has helped you understand a little better what is culteranismo and what are its main characteristics. If you want to continue learning more about this topic or something similar, do not hesitate to consult our history of literature section, where we will accompany you on a wonderful journey through the interior of the books.