Colonial and Emancipation Literature - Viceroyalty of Peru

Flashcards covering the main authors, works, and periods of Peruvian Colonial, Emancipation, and Costumbrismo literature.

Classic Period (16th–17th centuries)

A period of colonial literature that served as a reflection of the Spanish Renaissance.

Baroque Period (late 17th century)

A literary phase characterized by the culterano and conceptista styles.

Neoclassical Period (18th century)

A period influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and Encyclopedism.

Amarilis

An anonymous colonial poetess and admirer of Félix Lope de Vega who represents neoplatonic spiritual love.

Epístola a Belardo (1621)

A poem by Amarilis addressed to Lope de Vega declaring a spiritual love superior to physical love; published in Filomena.

Juan de Espinoza Medrano

Known as "El Lunarejo," he was a 17th-century Baroque conceptista writer and cleric born in Calcauso, Apurímac.

Apologético a favor de Góngora (1662)

An essay by Espinoza Medrano defending Góngora's poetry and asserting that America is a land of genius, not barbarians.

La novena maravilla

A collection of 30 religious sermons by Espinoza Medrano preached in both Spanish and Quechua.

El rapto de Proserpina

A theatrical play based on Greco-Roman mythology written by Espinoza Medrano before he was 15 years old.

El hijo pródigo

An auto sacramental (religious play) by Espinoza Medrano based on the biblical parable of the prodigal son.

Juan del Valle y Caviedes

Known as "El poeta de la ribera," he was a satirical Baroque writer known for his mordant and bohemio style.

Diente del Parnaso

The masterpiece of Caviedes; a collection of satirical poems attacking the doctors of colonial Lima as charlatans and murderers.

Los privilegios del pobre

A satirical poem by Caviedes criticizing social hypocrisy by showing how the poor are judged negatively regardless of their actions.

Guerras físicas, proezas medicinales

A satirical work by Caviedes where he equates doctors and healers to warriors who kill instead of cure.

Catorce definiciones del amor

A series of conceptista sonnets by Caviedes that define love through contradictory and melancholy perspectives.

Literature of the Emancipation (1780–1827)

A literary period ranging from the rebellion of Túpac Amaru to the exit of Colombian troops, focused on the ideal of liberty.

Mariano Melgar (1790–1815)

The most prominent romantic figure of the Emancipation era, an intellectual prodigy from Arequipa executed at age 24.

Silvia

The literary pseudonym used by Mariano Melgar to refer to his beloved María Santos Corrales.

Yaravíes

The first mestizo lyrical species of Peru, created by Melgar by fusing indigenous harawis with Spanish literary forms.

Melgar's Fábulas

Moralizing stories with animal characters used to critique the vices and vicios of colonial society.

Costumbrismo (1828–1848)

The first republican literary movement, describing the transition from colony to republic using social satire and burlesque tones.

Criollismo

A branch of Costumbrismo represented by Manuel Asencio Segura; it is popular, republican, liberal, and festive in tone.

Anticriollismo

A branch of Costumbrismo represented by Felipe Pardo y Aliaga; it is aristocratic, conservative, and ridicules the common habits.

Manuel Asencio Segura (1805–1871)

Known as the "Father of the national theater," he wrote in a popular, festive, and satirical style.

Ña Catita

A 4-act comedy in verse by Manuel Asencio Segura featuring a manipulative matchmaker to critique social hypocrisy in Lima.

Lima contra el espejo de mi tierra

A satirical newspaper founded by Manuel Asencio Segura focusing on the customs of Lima society.

Felipe Pardo y Aliaga

The maximum exponent of Anticriollismo, an aristocrat with French-style neoclassical training and conservative views.

Frutos de la Educación (1829)

The first play by Pardo y Aliaga, satirizing the superficial education of middle-class women who imitate foreign fashions.