Deciphering Lo somni and its literary techniques
Julia BUTIÑÁ
Original title: Descifrando Lo somni y sus técnicas literarias
Published in Mirabilia Journal 34
Keywords: Italian Trecento authors, Lo somni, Ramon Llull, Rhetoric, Troubadour Poetry.
The message that, in Lo somni, the spirit of the king secretly entrusts to the author –the great humanist Bernat Metge– commissioning him to spread it in the future, given its dangerous nature, is encrypted through literary sources. After following –especially those of Boccaccio– in the four books, by means of tables published in 2002, his links between the different books are represented in a diagram. This allows verifying that said layout is not only harmonic and makes the logic of said sources explicit, but also seems to reveal techniques typical of verse –coming from the troubadour heritage– and of prose –the framework used by the Italian Trecento authors–, which would contribute to artistically encrypt the message. This consists of rejecting the misogynistic doctrine of the Petrarchian Secretum, which has contaminated Boccaccio, and adhering to Llull, who has the most intricate artifice of concealment. The investigation is completed by a contrast with the Apologia, which confirms these results.
The Paradise in Lo somni by Bernat Metge (c. 1340-1413)
Julia BUTINYÀ JIMÉNEZ
Original title: El Paradís en Lo somni de Bernat Metge (c. 1340-1413)
Published in Returning to Eden
Keywords: Bernat Metge, Humanism, Llibre del gentil e dels tres savis, Lo somni, Ramon Llull.
The concept of Paradise is analyzed in Lo somni, the great humanist dialogue by the notary of the chancellery of Barcelona, Bernat Metge, from the perspective of different religions and traditions (Catholic, Classical, Saracen doctrine and Christianity). The observation also makes it possible to calibrate the strong influence of the Mallorca Philosopher Ramon Llull, who is confirmed behind the origins of the humanist movement, as well as underlines the very peculiar techniques, the intensity of his critical sense and especially the intimate classicist bond. Still, he advances positions which are current issues.
The dignity of the body, of woman, of love and pleasure. Brief analysis in the great humanist works of the Crown of Aragon
Júlia BUTINYÀ
Original title: La dignitat del cos, de la dona, de l’amor i del plaer. Breu anàlisi en les grans obres humanistes de la Corona d’Aragó
Published in Rhythms, expressions and representations of the body
Keywords: Commedia, Curial e Güelfa, Decameron, Lo somni.
This observation aims to outline quantitative nuances about the notion of the body and senses from the great humanist works of the Crown of Aragon: The dream of Bernat Metge (1399) and the Curial and Güelfa (ca. 1458), for the purpose of approach the evolutionary line of the Humanism since the beginning. It demands to go back to the literary sources and the ascendancy of that ideological renewal, which will lead to Dante. This route is of interest to follow the first humanist achievements, of which we obtain very pure samples in these Italo-Catalan origins, marked by a stamp of mixture, sensual and moral, that characterizes them. Finally, we will conclude by pointing out the fleetingness of the humanistic purity that these two works contain.
