"Segunda carta de relación" – Hernán Cortes
Owen Perez
8 min read
Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers Hernán Cortés' Segunda carta de relación for the AP Spanish Literature exam. It explores the historical, geographical, and societal contexts of the letter, including the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Key literary terms and devices like narrador testigo, enumeración, polisíndeton, and asíndeton are discussed. The guide analyzes themes such as societies in contact, nature and environment, construction of reality, and literary creation. Finally, it provides practice questions and exam tips focusing on author's purpose, cultural perspective, and literary analysis.
#AP Spanish Literature Study Guide: Segunda carta de relación 📝
Welcome! This guide is designed to help you ace your AP Spanish Literature exam, focusing on Hernán Cortés' Segunda carta de relación. Let's dive in! This is your go-to resource for a confident test day.
#🧭 Overview & Context
#📜 Historical Context
- Author: Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador.
- Time: 1520, during the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
- Event: Part of the Age of Discovery, driven by European nations seeking wealth, glory, and to spread Christianity.
- Goal: To report to King Carlos V about the conquest and the wonders of the new land.
#🗺️ Geographic Context
- Setting: The Aztec Empire, particularly Tenochtitlán.
- Description: Varied landscapes (mountains, valleys, plains, rivers), rich agriculture (maize, beans), and abundant natural resources (gold, silver).
#👑 Societal Context
- Political: Power struggle between Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec Empire. Cortés aimed to establish Spanish dominance.
- Socio-economic: Clash between the structured Aztec society and the wealth-seeking Spanish. Aztecs had complex systems, skilled artisans, and abundant resources.
- Cultural: Meeting of two distinct civilizations. Cortés highlights Aztec temples, art, and rituals (including human sacrifice), contrasting them with European customs.
The letter serves as both a historical document and a piece of persuasive writing, aiming to justify the conquest to the Spanish Crown.
#🎭 Key Elements
#👤 Characters
Note: The letter is from Cortés' perspective, so characters are seen through his eyes.
- Hernán Cortés: The author and main character, leader of the Spanish expedition.
- Montezuma II: The Aztec emperor, initially welcoming but later facing conflict with the Spanish.
- Indigenous Leaders: Various leaders and allies from different native groups, some supporting and others opposing the Spanish.
- Spanish Conquistadors: Cortés' companions in the expedition, though not individually named.
#✍️ Literary Terms & Devices
- Narrador testigo (Witness Narrator): Cortés narrates from his own experience as a participant in the events. 💡
- Narratorio: Combines a letter format with a historical account.
- Enumeración (Enumeration): Deta...
How are we doing?
Give us your feedback and let us know how we can improve