LUIS DE GÓNGORA: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Luis de Góngora (1561-1627) was a well-known Spanish poet and playwright. It belonged to the Spanish Golden Age, and also stood out for being the highest representative of culteranismo, a literary trend whose objective was to make expression more intense. This literary trend was also called "gongorism" because Góngora was its most constant exponent.

Most of Góngora's works were present in Spain and the rest of Europe. He was characterized by having a very personal style, he also made use of many cultisms, that is, of words that did not follow the evolution of Castilian, and which in turn gave rise to vulgar language.

Luis de Góngora. Source: Diego Velázquez

The scholars of his works agree that the reading of this author is difficult because he used exaggerations or hyperbole in an unusual way. However, this resource gave greatness to the writing, surprising the reader. In the same way, within his manuscripts one could observe a lot of darkness, and dark aspects.

Biography

Luís de Góngora y Argote was born into a wealthy family on July 11, 1561. His father was Francisco de Argote, who served as a judge, and his mother a distinguished lady of the Spanish aristocracy, known as Leonor de Góngora.

His father, who was also a humanist and book lover, was very concerned about the education of his four children. Francisca, María and Juan were Luis's brothers. The boys' maternal uncle, Francisco, also influenced the education their parents gave the writer.

Childhood and youth

Luís de Góngora's childhood was very traditional. Like most children of his time, he constantly played and had fun. Where he did stand out and differentiate himself from the others was in his talent for poetry. This poetic capacity was a pleasant surprise for the Spanish historian and humanist Ambrosio de Morales.

At fourteen years of age his uncle Francisco, who served as administrator of a church, made him take minor orders, with the aim of ensuring a supposed economic well-being. However, the young Góngora had no interest or religious vocation.

Years later he went to study at the University of Salamanca, where he studied "canons" or "canon law". As always, Luis surprised with his ability and talent to write poetry. Through his uncle he followed the priestly training, but for being a libertine he was punished many times. He received the habits at fifty years of age.

Rebellious priest

During his training as a priest, in addition to attending what were considered profane acts at that time, he also dedicated himself to writing satirical poetry. For the year 1589, as a rationer for the Cathedral of Córdoba, he traveled to several cities in Spain, and took the opportunity to write numerous poems.

While traveling he had the opportunity to meet many personalities. He took the opportunity to attend different meetings and literary schools. He was a constant critic of some poets of his time; in turn these poets made some remarks to their poetic work.

On several occasions he was sanctioned by Bishop Francisco Pacheco. He was accused of leading a wasteful life, and of writing poetry with inappropriate content. The accusations were more related to the places he frequented than to neglect of religious precepts.

Some economic hardships

In the year 1617 an economically hard stage began for Góngora. His resources were limited, he having been a man of luxury and expensive pleasures. After that situation he decided to form part of the court of King Felipe III; but it was not enough to cover his expenses.

Later, four years later, Felipe IV assumed the reign of Spain. It was the moment that Góngora took the opportunity to make friends with the Count of Olivares, who served as the King's minister at that time. The poet's idea was for Olivares to help him publish his poems, but he did not keep his word.

The economic situation of the poet became more serious. While he waited for the publication of his works, he had to dispose of some belongings in order to survive and pay debts. It was a tough time. By 1626 he stopped living within the Spanish court.

The end of his days

Góngora's frustration at not being able to fulfill his objectives forced him to return to Córdoba. His health began to weaken, he lost his memory. From a very young age he suffered from arteriosclerosis, a disease that perhaps caused him amnesia. In the year 1627, specifically on May 23, he suffered a seizure and died.

Tomb of Luis de Góngora. Source: Pablo Rodríguez, via Wikimedia Commons

Poverty accompanied him until the end of his days. Not having been able to make the pertinent contacts to carry out his literary objectives, kept him from giving the appropriate importance to his works. However, time itself ensured that his poetry reached high ground, giving rise to the birth of a new language.

He was buried in the Chapel of San Bartolomé, located in the Cathedral of Córdoba. In that place his parents had been buried, and in some strong episodes of his illness he had asked to rest there. It was perhaps not an example of life, but it was an example of how to write poetry.

Plays

Luís de Góngora's literary career began in 1580, and has always been full of irony and mockery. He was a poet with a humorous style, quite light, but, above all, cultured. He went through many situations to make the publication of his works possible.

The traditional and simple

His poetry was characterized by being many times traditional. He made use of light and simple themes, with a short meter of the verses. The songs, the letrillas, the romances, as well as the tenths and the triplets, were part of her repertoire.

All the works of Don Luis de Góngora. Source: http://catalogo.bne.es/uhtbin/cgisirsi/0/x/0/05?searchdata1=bima0000003684, via Wikimedia Commons

In a second stage he became a culterano. He made the expression more intense, and in the same way he put aside the common vocabulary, and replaced it with Latin words, metaphors and hyperbole. All these elements made him unique, they also embellished his work.

Opinions on Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo

Góngora was described by the Spanish literary critic Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo with the nicknames of "The Prince of Light" and "The Prince of Darkness." The first referred to his first phase as a poet, which, as stated above, was simple and straightforward.

The second description "Prince of darkness" is related to his second stage as a poet, a time in which he wrote stronger poems that were difficult to understand. Within this period is contained the ode To La Toma de Larache, which deals with a historical theme.

In that ode the writer made a satire in relation to the failure of the Marquis of San Germán, Juan de Mendoza, in his attempt to conquer the now known port city of Morocco: Larache. The poem is as follows:

"Larache, that African

strong, since they are not handsome, to the glorious Saint Germán, christian military thunderbolt, was entrusted and it was not in vain, then he Christianized the Moor, and for more pomp and decorum

being his compadre the same, ten candles led to baptism

with many golden shields… ”.

Best known works

Perhaps his best known works are El Polifemo and Las Soledades. Both display a wide imagination, while putting reason and intelligence in battle.

The two works were also in the eye of criticism, due to the exaggerated metaphors and inappropriate content for the time.

The adversaries of his poetry

Among Góngora's strongest critics were Juan de Jáuregui and Francisco de Quevedo. The first composed Antídoto, while the second did the same with Quien Quisiera Ser Culto en un Día.

These manuscripts were a direct attack on Luís's work. However, the poet believed in the quality of his poetry and flaunted its complexity.

Features of "gongorian" poetry

Some of the features of the poetry of "gongorian" are the use of description in order to awaken the senses of the reader, constantly focused on the elements of nature, and frequently used love, religion, philosophy and mockery as main themes.

In the same way, the writer always sought to show the pleasure that there is in the aesthetic, in the decorative, in the artistic. Rarely did the poet focus his attention on feelings and thoughts. Likewise, the application of the word game in a funny way was a constant in his poetry.

The Polyphemus

This work was a fable inspired by Ovid's Metamorphosis. It tells the story of the delicate and beautiful Galatea and Polyphemus, who was wild and aggressive, but who became transformed when he sang to his love. It was a descriptive text based on mythology. It dates from the year 1612.

Madrid to Luis de Góngora. Source: jacinta lluch valero from madrid * barcelona…., (Spain-Spain), via Wikimedia Commons

Fragment:

"Where sparkling the Sicilian sea

the silver silver foot to the Lilibeo

(vault or of the forges of Vulcan, Or tombs of Typheus' bones)

Pale ashy signs on a plain… ”.

Solitudes

The author composed it in 1613. The text was written in silva, that is to say, indeterminately followed by seven-syllable and hendecasyllable verses, which rhyme freely.

At first it was divided into four sections, but its author could only finish the dedication to the Duke of Béjar Alfonso Diego López de Zúñiga.

On the other hand, Góngora began to write the so-called “Two first solitudes”, but did not finish the second. The story of the “First Solitude” refers to a castaway who attended the wedding of some shepherds. The poet used a detailed description of nature and mythological aspects to embellish the story and entice the reader.

Fragment:

“Honor soft, generous knot, freedom, of persecuted Fortune;

that to your mercy, grateful Euterpe, his song will give a sweet instrument,

when Fame does not blow its trunk to the wind ”.

Fable of Pyramus and Thisbe

Góngora wrote it in 1608, because of the style of its verses it was considered a romance. The above means that it is made up of eight syllables, and that its rhyme is assonance, with one or another loose verse. With this poem the combination between the humorous and the glorious ended.

This manuscript was considered one of his most complex and difficult to understand works, because he used a great variety of words that had many meanings at the same time. It is about the love between two young people who do everything to be together, and as a result of a confusion they end up dead. The play was set in Babylon.

Fragment:

"How many the impediment

they accused of consumption, to the well that is in between, if they don't kiss the cubes! ".

The Panegyric

With this work Góngora made an acclamation to Don Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, who served as Duke of Lerma during the reign of Felipe III.

The manuscript consisted of 632 verses, with 79 stanzas called royal octaves, that is, composed of eight hendecasyllable verses.

It was considered one of the longest and most complex poems of Góngora. However, many followers and scholars of his work consider that little has been taken into account, while others agree that it lacks little feeling. The poet wrote it in 1617.

Fragment:

“Dulce drank in the prudent school

and the doctrine of the glorious man,

and sparks of blood with the spur

requested the generous thunder,

the swift horse that wrapped flies

in burning dust, in dusty fire;

from Chiron not biform learn later

how many weapons the Greek has already struck down ”.

Sister Marica

This work by Góngora dates from the year 1580. It was a poem written in “romancillo” or in minor art verses, either hexasyllables or heptasyllables. The writing refers to a boy who talks to his sister about not having to go to school the next day.

Góngora wrote the poem when he was 19 years old. However, it can be appreciated that he speaks from a childish voice. On the other hand, you can see the marked enthusiasm that the infant feels for the next holiday. This in turn reflects the playful character of the author.

Fragment:

"Sister Marica, tomorrow is a party, you will not go to the friend, nor will I go to school…

And in the afternoon, in our square, I will play the bull

and you to the dolls…

And I made of paper

i will make a livery

dyed with blackberries

because it seems… ".

The Firmness of Isabela

It was a play written in verse, in 1610. It belonged to the genre of comedy and was developed in three acts. It was written, if it can be said, in a playful way, that is, it does not tell the story in a linear way, but some actions and comments are not perceived by the audience until the work itself does not provide more information.

The characters in this play were: Octavio, who represents an old merchant from Toledo; Isabela, daughter of Octavio; Isabela's maid, named Laureta; Fabio joins, who is also a merchant, in addition to Violante and Tadeo. Galeazo, Lelio, Emilio, Marcelo, Donato and two servants are also part of the cast.

Fragment:

"Isabela: Happy shepherd girl, That of the Tagus on the shore, For her more than for her rich sand, Dress, sincere and pure, Whiteness of whiteness,

Snow the chest and stoats the fur

And the corded gold releases to the wind… ”.

From the previous fragment, an intervention by the character of Isabela in act II talking with Laureta, Góngora's style can be observed. It takes the intervention of other characters to finish understanding. Furthermore, the use of metaphors as a beautification resource is evident.

Rosemary Flowers

It was a love theme poem written by Góngora in 1608. In it the poet raised the search for love, and the jealousy that can occur when knowing that the loved one feels something for someone else, or is indifferent. In the same way, he made reference to the hope that comes with a new dawn.

Fragment:

"The rosemary flowers, girl Isabel, today they are blue flowers, tomorrow they will be honey… "

You are jealous, the girl

You are jealous of him

Blessed then, you seek him, Blind because he does not see you, Ungrateful, it makes you angry

And confident, well

No apologies today

Of what he did yesterday… ”.

Other works by Góngora

The above are perhaps the best known works of the Spanish writer and poet Luís de Góngora. However, the following are also added: Comedia Venatoria and Doctor Carlino, which are theatrical pieces, written in verse. There are also Granada, Al Nacimiento de Cristo and El Forzado de Dragut.

Continuing with the list, they highlighted: That Ray of War, Among the Loose Horses of the Vanquished, Walk I Hot and People Laugh. There were many editors and writers who later published the works of this author .

A little supported vocation

The early vocation of Luís de Góngora for writing and poetry, earned him happiness and misfortunes. The happiness was framed within the passion he felt for his talent, and the intelligence and ability he had to develop it. However, the possibility of publishing his texts was not on his side.

In the year 1623 the writer tried to publish his works, but the aid that was promised did not become possible. This greatly lowered the spirits of the poet, who continued knocking on doors, but to no avail. It was then that many of his texts passed through various hands, in most cases without his permission.

Within the history of Góngora's literary life, the work that he is known to have authorized was the Manuscript of Chacón. The previous one was reproduced by Antonio Chacón, who was a representative of the province of Polvoranca, and carried out the work for the then Duke and Count Olivares Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel.

The so-called Manuscript of Chacón was endowed with comments and clarifications from Góngora himself, as well as the order by date of each poem. For this reason it is assumed that the poet authorized this work. The relevance of Góngora's writings was also evidenced by the comments and praise of great personalities inside and outside of his time.

Some modern editions of Góngora

The importance of the works of Luís de Góngora occurred years after his death. While he was unable to make the publication of many of his writings possible, modernity dedicated himself to keeping his essence as a writer and poet alive. Modified or not, his legacy continues to transcend.

For example, in 1980, in Madrid, Professor John Beverley made an edition of Soledades. Later, in 1983, the English Hispanist Alexander Parker dedicated himself to studying and editing the Fable of Polyphemus and Galatea. Letrillas, songs and other poems of major art, as well as romances, were seen again in the 80s.

The above are usually the most contemporary works that have stood out. However, it is considered the first of the twentieth century, the one that the French Hispanist Raymond Fulché made in 1921, on Poetic Works of Góngora. Years later there were criticisms and studies of Soledades and some of his sonnets.

References

1. Luís de Góngora. (2018). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
2. Luís de Góngora. (2018). Cuba: Ecured: Knowledge with everyone and for everyone. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
3. Romanos, M. (S. f.). Góngora attacked, defended and committed: Manuscripts and printed matter of the controversial Gongorina and comments on his work. Spain: National Library of Spain. Recovered from: bne.es.
4. Luís de Góngora and Argote. (2018). (N / a): Biographies and Lives: The Online Encyclopedia. Recovered from: biogramasyvidas.com.
5. Luís de Góngora. (2018). Spain: Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library. Recovered from: cervantesvirtual.com.