#AP Spanish Literature: Soneto XXIII Study Guide 🌹

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP Spanish Literature exam with a deep dive into Garcilaso de la Vega's Soneto XXIII. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the exam. Let's make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace it!

#1. Context: Setting the Stage 🌍

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Historical and Cultural Background

• Renaissance Spain (16th Century): A period of artistic, literary, and cultural revival. Think of it as a rebirth of classical ideas with a Spanish twist. 🇪🇸
• Literary Boom: Poetry, especially, flourished. Garcilaso was a key player in this movement.
• Influence: Italian Renaissance (Petrarch) + Spanish traditions = Garcilaso's unique style.

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• Poet & Soldier: A true Renaissance man! Served in the army and was part of the court.
• Style: Combined Spanish forms with Italian influences.
• Image: Caption: Garcilaso de la Vega, a key figure of the Spanish Renaissance.

#Time and Place Details

• Historical Context: 16th-century Spain was experiencing a cultural and intellectual boom.
• Geographic Context: While not explicitly mentioned in the poem, the natural beauty of Spain (gardens, flowers, rivers) inspires the imagery. 🏞️

#Societal Context

• Political: Spain was becoming a major empire, but the poem focuses on love, beauty, and the transient nature of life, not politics.
• Socio-economic: The Renaissance brought wealth and a rise of a merchant class, with nobles supporting the arts. The poem reflects the sensibilities of the educated elite.
• Cultural: The poem is rooted in Renaissance literary and artistic traditions, aiming to adapt and replicate classical Greek and Roman works.

Go to Literary Devices | Go to Themes | Go to Summary

#2. Diving into Soneto XXIII 🤿

#Characters (Abstract)

• No traditional characters. The poem is about ideas and feelings, not specific people.
• Speaker: Reflects on beauty, time, and love's endurance.
• Abstract Characters: Represent concepts like beauty, love, and mortality.

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Literary Devices