Glossary
Anáfora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines for emphasis.
Example:
The repeated 'Mientras...' at the start of lines in Góngora's sonnet is a clear instance of anáfora, building a sense of comparison.
Apóstrofe
A rhetorical device where the speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object.
Example:
When the speaker in a poem directly addresses the beloved's hair, it is an apóstrofe.
Asíndeton
A rhetorical device that omits conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses, creating a sense of speed, intensity, or conciseness.
Example:
The phrase 'oro, lilio, clavel, cristal' without 'y' between each item is an example of asíndeton, quickening the pace.
Baroque period
A cultural and artistic movement in Europe from the early 17th to mid-18th century, characterized by grandeur, drama, and elaborate ornamentation.
Example:
Góngora's intricate language and focus on the fleeting nature of life are hallmarks of the Baroque period in Spanish literature.
Carpe diem
A Latin phrase meaning 'seize the day,' a literary motif that urges living for the present moment, often because life is short and uncertain.
Example:
The poem's implicit message to appreciate beauty now, before it fades, aligns with the carpe diem philosophy.
Cromatismo
The use of color imagery to create vivid visual descriptions and evoke specific moods or sensory experiences in a literary work.
Example:
The descriptions of golden hair and white lilies in the poem exemplify cromatismo, adding richness to the imagery.
Cuarteto
A stanza or poem consisting of four lines, often with a specific rhyme scheme, commonly found in sonnets.
Example:
The first two stanzas of a traditional sonnet are typically cuartetos, setting up the poem's initial ideas.
Culteranismo
An ornate and complex literary style, primarily associated with Luis de Góngora, characterized by obscure vocabulary, convoluted syntax (hyperbaton), and abundant metaphors and classical allusions.
Example:
The dense imagery and inverted word order in 'Mientras por competir con tu cabello' are prime examples of culteranismo.
El amor y el desprecio
A literary theme exploring the complex interplay between feelings of affection, admiration, and disdain or rejection, often within romantic contexts.
Example:
The speaker's admiration for the beloved's beauty mixed with a sense of unrequited affection or the harsh reality of time's impact can reflect el amor y el desprecio.
El tiempo y el espacio
A common theme in literature exploring the concepts of time's passage, its impact on human existence, and the settings in which events unfold.
Example:
The poem's focus on the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitable decay over time directly addresses the theme of el tiempo y el espacio.
Endecasílabo
A verse line consisting of eleven syllables, a common meter in Spanish poetry, especially in sonnets, contributing to its formal structure and musicality.
Example:
Most of Góngora's sonnets are written in endecasílabo lines, giving them a consistent rhythm and flow.
Enumeración
A rhetorical device that lists items, ideas, or details in a series, often to create a cumulative effect or emphasize quantity.
Example:
When Góngora lists various natural elements like sun, stars, and gold to describe the hair, he is using enumeración.
Gradación
A rhetorical device that arranges words, phrases, or clauses in an ascending or descending order of importance, intensity, or magnitude.
Example:
The poem's progression from vibrant beauty to eventual decay demonstrates gradación, emphasizing the inevitable decline.
Hipérbaton
A rhetorical device that inverts the conventional order of words or phrases in a sentence, often for poetic effect, emphasis, or to fit a meter.
Example:
Góngora frequently uses hipérbaton, like placing the verb at the end of a sentence, to create a more sophisticated and challenging reading experience.
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.
Example:
Describing hair as competing with the sun's brilliance is an example of hyperbole, emphasizing its extraordinary beauty.
La trayectoria y la transformación
A literary theme focusing on the journey or path of something (e.g., beauty, life) and the changes or evolution it undergoes over time.
Example:
The poem illustrates la trayectoria y la transformación of beauty, moving from its peak to its ultimate decay.
Lyric poem
A type of poetry that expresses personal emotions or feelings, typically spoken in the first person, rather than telling a narrative story.
Example:
Góngora's sonnet is a lyric poem because it focuses on the speaker's admiration and reflection on beauty and mortality, not a plot.
Memento mori
A Latin phrase meaning 'remember death,' a literary or artistic theme that serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death and the transient nature of earthly life.
Example:
The poem's shift from vibrant beauty to the eventual decay into 'tierra, humo, polvo, sombra, nada' is a powerful memento mori.
Metáfora
A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as,' stating one thing is another.
Example:
Calling the beloved's hair 'oro' (gold) is a powerful metáfora for its preciousness and color.
Rima consonante
A type of rhyme where both the vowel and consonant sounds at the end of lines match exactly, starting from the last stressed vowel.
Example:
In a sonnet, if 'cabello' rhymes with 'bello' and 'oro' rhymes with 'tesoro', that's rima consonante.
Spanish Golden Age
A period of flourishing arts and literature in Spain, roughly from the late 15th century to the late 17th century, coinciding with the rise of the Spanish Empire.
Example:
Many of the most influential works in AP Spanish Literature, including Góngora's sonnets, emerged during the Spanish Golden Age.
Símbolo
An object, person, or idea that represents something else, often an abstract concept, beyond its literal meaning.
Example:
The beloved's hair in the poem functions as a símbolo of fleeting beauty and the transient nature of life.
Terceto
A stanza or poem consisting of three lines, often used in the concluding sections of sonnets to shift focus or provide resolution.
Example:
The final two stanzas of a sonnet are usually tercetos, where the poet often introduces a twist or a deeper reflection.