Glossary
Didactic
Intended to teach, particularly in having a moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
Example:
El Conde Lucanor is a didactic work, as its primary purpose is to impart practical wisdom and moral lessons through its stories.
Don Juan Manuel
A prominent Spanish writer from the Middle Ages, known for his didactic works. He was a nobleman with access to extensive education.
Example:
Don Juan Manuel's aristocratic background allowed him to observe and critique the societal norms of his time, which he often incorporated into his stories.
El Conde Lucanor
The titular character of the work, a nobleman who seeks advice from his counselor, Patronio, on various dilemmas.
Example:
El Conde Lucanor represents the reader's own need for guidance, as he listens to Patronio's illustrative tales to resolve his problems.
El mancebo
A young, single man who marries *la mujer brava* for her money and uses extreme measures to establish his dominance over her from the outset.
Example:
El mancebo's calculated and violent actions are central to the story's message about the importance of setting expectations early in a relationship.
El padre de la mujer
The father of *la mujer brava* who attempts to replicate *el mancebo*'s strategy to control his own wife but fails because his wife knows his true nature.
Example:
El padre de la mujer serves as a foil to El Mancebo, illustrating that one cannot easily change established perceptions or behaviors later in life.
Establishing Character
The act of clearly demonstrating one's true nature, intentions, or expectations from the very beginning of a relationship or situation.
Example:
Establishing character early on, as El Mancebo does, is presented as crucial for gaining respect and control, according to the story's moral.
Fabula
A short, fictional story, often featuring animals as characters, that conveys a moral lesson or practical advice.
Example:
Aesop's Fables are classic examples of fábulas, each concluding with a clear moral for the reader.
Feudal system
A socio-economic and political system prevalent in the Middle Ages where land was exchanged for service or labor. It established a hierarchy from royalty to peasants.
Example:
Under the feudal system, peasants were tied to the land owned by the nobility and clergy, working it in exchange for protection and a place to live.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally.
Example:
When a character claims they are "so hungry they could eat a horse," they are using hyperbole to express extreme hunger.
La construcción de género
The societal and cultural shaping of roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with masculinity and femininity.
Example:
La construcción de género in El Conde Lucanor highlights the rigid expectations for women's submission and men's dominance in medieval society.
La mujer brava
An aggressive, ill-tempered, and wealthy woman who is forced into marriage and later becomes submissive due to her husband's actions.
Example:
Initially, la mujer brava challenges traditional gender expectations with her fierce independence, making her transformation all the more striking.
Las relaciones de poder
The dynamics of influence, control, and authority between individuals or groups within a social context.
Example:
Las relaciones de poder are central to the story, as El Mancebo systematically dismantles La Mujer Brava's initial dominance to establish his own.
Las relaciones familiares
The bonds and interactions within a family unit, often reflecting societal norms regarding hierarchy, roles, and expectations.
Example:
The marriage between El Mancebo and La Mujer Brava, driven by wealth and control, exemplifies las relaciones familiares as depicted in the medieval context.
Las relaciones interpersonales
The complex interactions and connections between individuals, exploring aspects like loyalty, deceit, communication, and power dynamics.
Example:
The shifting power dynamic between El Mancebo and La Mujer Brava is a prime example of las relaciones interpersonales being explored in the text.
Machismo
A strong sense of masculine pride and superiority, often characterized by an expectation of male dominance and control over women.
Example:
Machismo is evident in El Conde Lucanor when El Mancebo uses fear and violence to assert his authority over his new wife, reflecting the patriarchal norms of the era.
Meta-
A Greek prefix meaning "after," "beyond," or "on," often used to denote something that refers to itself or to the conventions of its genre.
Example:
A play that features characters discussing the nature of theater itself is an example of meta-theatricality.
Middle Ages
The historical period in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century, characterized by feudalism, the dominance of the Church, and distinct literary genres.
Example:
Many works from the Middle Ages, like El Conde Lucanor, reflect the strong influence of religion and the hierarchical social structure of the time.
Moraleja
The moral or lesson conveyed at the end of a story, particularly common in fables and didactic literature.
Example:
The moraleja of El Conde Lucanor emphasizes the importance of establishing one's true character from the very beginning of a relationship.
Patriarchal system
A social structure in which men hold primary power and authority in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
Example:
The patriarchal system of the Middle Ages meant that women, regardless of their initial strength, were often expected to be submissive to male authority figures.
Patronio
Count Lucanor's wise counselor and storyteller, who provides advice through didactic tales or *fábulas*.
Example:
Patronio serves as the voice of wisdom and experience, guiding El Conde Lucanor with practical lessons embedded in his stories.