Glossary
Abencerrajes
A prominent and noble Moorish family in Granada, whose massacre by the king is cited as a reason for divine punishment and the fall of Alhama.
Example:
The tragic fate of the Abencerrajes serves as a symbol of the king's poor judgment and internal strife within the Moorish kingdom.
Alfaquí
An Islamic scholar or legal expert, often serving as an advisor or religious leader within a Muslim community.
Example:
The alfaquí in the poem bravely confronts the king, criticizing his decisions and attributing the loss of Alhama to his actions.
Assonant Rhyme
A type of rhyme where only the vowel sounds match at the end of lines, while the consonant sounds differ.
Example:
In 'casa' and 'drama,' the 'a' vowel sound creates an assonant rhyme, providing a subtle musicality without a full consonant match.
Blank Verses (Versos Blancos)
Lines of poetry that do not rhyme but often maintain a consistent meter, typically used in conjunction with rhyming lines in forms like the romance.
Example:
While the even lines of a romance rhyme, the odd lines are blank verses, contributing to the poem's distinct rhythmic pattern without a full rhyme scheme.
Chorus (Estribillo)
A line or set of lines that is repeated at intervals throughout a poem or song, often at the end of stanzas, to emphasize a central theme or emotion.
Example:
The haunting chorus '¡Ay de mi Alhama!' powerfully conveys the deep sorrow and lament of the Moorish people.
Christian Narrator
The implied speaker or voice of the poem, whose perspective and biases reflect a Christian viewpoint, influencing the portrayal of events and characters.
Example:
The Christian narrator's description of the Moors often subtly highlights their defeat and the triumph of the Christian forces.
Convivencia
Refers to the period in medieval Spain where Christians, Muslims, and Jews coexisted and often interacted culturally and intellectually, particularly in Al-Andalus.
Example:
The architecture of Córdoba's Mezquita-Catedral stands as a testament to the period of Convivencia in medieval Spain.
El Imperialismo / Imperialism
A literary theme examining the policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means, often focusing on its impact on the conquered.
Example:
The poem's portrayal of the Moorish loss of territory and power reflects the consequences of imperialismo from the perspective of the defeated.
Fall of Granada
The conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, marking the end of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.
Example:
The Fall of Granada is a pivotal moment in Spanish history, symbolizing the completion of the Reconquista and the unification of Spain.
Hyperbaton (Hipérbaton)
A literary device involving the inversion or rearrangement of the usual word order in a sentence, often for emphasis or to fit a metrical or rhyme scheme.
Example:
Instead of 'The king killed the messenger,' a poet might use hyperbaton to say 'The messenger killed the king,' altering the typical subject-verb-object order.
Octosyllabic
A poetic line consisting of eight syllables, a common meter in Spanish poetry, especially in romances.
Example:
The consistent rhythm of an octosyllabic line makes it easy to recite and remember, contributing to its popularity in oral traditions.
Oral Tradition
The practice of passing down stories, songs, and knowledge verbally from one generation to the next, rather than through written texts.
Example:
Many folk tales and early poems, like those from the oral tradition, were sung or recited before they were ever written down.
Polifonía
The presence of multiple voices or perspectives within a single literary work, creating a dialogue between different viewpoints.
Example:
The poem exhibits polifonía through the king's lament, the people's blame, and the alfaquí's rebuke, offering diverse reactions to the fall of Alhama.
Reconquista
The period of nearly 800 years during which Christian kingdoms gradually reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, culminating in 1492.
Example:
The Reconquista profoundly shaped Spanish identity and led to the unification of Spain under Catholic monarchs.
Romance (poetic form)
A traditional Spanish ballad, typically narrative, characterized by an indefinite number of octosyllabic lines with assonant rhyme in the even-numbered verses.
Example:
Many romances from the medieval period, like 'Romance del rey moro que perdió Alhama,' tell stories of historical events or legendary figures.
Siglo de Oro (Golden Age)
A period of flourishing arts and literature in Spain, roughly from the late 15th century to the late 17th century, marked by significant cultural and political influence.
Example:
Playwrights like Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca are iconic figures of the Spanish Siglo de Oro.
Sinalefa
A poetic device where the final vowel of one word and the initial vowel of the next word are counted as a single syllable for metrical purposes.
Example:
In the phrase 'de este,' the sinalefa combines the 'e' of 'de' and the 'e' of 'este' into one syllable to maintain the poem's meter.
Sociedades en Contacto / Societies in Contact
A literary theme exploring the interactions, conflicts, and transformations that occur when different cultures, civilizations, or social groups meet and influence each other.
Example:
The tensions and eventual clash between the Christian and Moorish forces in the poem exemplify the theme of sociedades en contacto.
Época Medieval (Medieval Period)
The historical period in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century, characterized by feudalism, the rise of Christianity, and significant cultural developments.
Example:
Much of the early Spanish literature, including epic poems and ballads, originated during the Época Medieval.