Las Jarchas (y las moaxajas): características y ejemplos

Summary

The video explores 'jarchas', early lyrical compositions in the Romance language, marking the beginning of Spanish literature. These short poems, written in Mozarabic dialect and influenced by Arabic, were appended to 'moaxajas', cultured poems in Hebrew or Arabic. Jarchas, written in aljamiado using Arabic characters, often dealt with love and were expressed through a young woman's voice. They featured stylistic elements like questions, exclamations, and anaphoras, with about 70 historically collected. The video provides an example and invites viewers to engage with the content.

Takeaways

• 📜 Jarchas are considered the first lyrical manifestations in Romance, marking the beginning of Spanish literature.
• 📝 They are brief poetic compositions, typically not exceeding 4 or 5 verses, written in Mozarabic, a dialect spoken by Christian converts in Al-Andalus.
• 🌐 Mozarabic dialect is a blend of Latin with strong Arabic influences, reflecting the cultural mix of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
• 🖋 Jarchas were written in aljamiado, using Arabic characters to mimic the sound of the Romance language.
• 💌 They often served as popular love letters, usually expressing a young woman's feelings for a loved one who is absent.
• 📚 Jarchas were attached to the end of more cultured poems known as moaxajas, which were written in Hebrew or Arabic.
• 🕰️ The earliest known Jarchas date back to the mid-11th century, though they might be older, and they ceased to be produced around the 14th century due to the Reconquista.
• ❤️ The themes of Jarchas are predominantly amorous, with a focus on love and longing.
• 👩‍👧 The mother figure often acts as a confidante or recipient of the sentiments expressed in Jarchas, aligning with the lyrical tradition of the Galician-Portuguese cancioncillas.
• 🎨 Stylistic features of Jarchas include frequent use of questions and exclamations, vocatives, and a fondness for anaphoras, parallelisms, and antitheses.
• 🔢 Scholars have collected a historical corpus of approximately 70 Jarchas, representing a significant part of early Spanish literary heritage.

Q & A

What is a jarcha and how is it related to moaxajas?

A jarcha is one of the earliest lyrical expressions in Romance, marking the beginning of Spanish literature. It is a short poetic composition, usually no more than 4 or 5 verses, written in Mozarabic, a dialect spoken by Christian converts in Al-Andalus who had adopted Islam. Jarchas were written in aljamiado, using Arabic characters to mimic the sound of the Romance language, and were often appended to moaxajas, which were cultured poems written in Hebrew or Arabic.

Why are jarchas considered important in the history of literature?

Jarchas are important because they represent the first manifestations of lyrical poetry in the Romance language, thus signifying the inception of Spanish literature.

In what language were jarchas originally written?

Jarchas were originally written in Mozarabic, a dialect that retained the base of Latin but was heavily influenced by Arabic.

What is the typical length of a jarcha?

Jarchas are typically brief, consisting of no more than 4 or 5 verses.

How were jarchas written in relation to moaxajas?

Jarchas were written in aljamiado at the end of moaxajas, which were cultured poems. They were meant to be in a popular style, contrasting with the cultured language of the moaxajas.

What is the significance of the term 'aljamiado' in the context of jarchas?

The term 'aljamiado' refers to the use of Arabic characters to write texts in the Romance language, imitating its phonetics. This was a way to bridge the gap between the dominant Arabic culture and the emerging Romance languages.

When were the first jarchas created?

The first jarchas date back to the mid-11th century, although they could potentially be older.

Why did the creation of jarchas cease around the 14th century?

The creation of jarchas ceased around the 14th century due to the advance of the Reconquista, which led to significant cultural and linguistic changes.

What are the common themes found in jarchas?

The common themes in jarchas are love and longing, often expressed by a young woman for the absence of her beloved. The mother often serves as a confidante or recipient of these expressions.

What are the stylistic features that characterize jarchas?

Jarchas are characterized by the frequent use of questions and exclamations, an abundance of vocatives, and a preference for anaphoras, parallelisms, and antitheses.

How many jarchas have been historically collected?

Scholars have collected a historical corpus of approximately 70 jarchas.

Can you provide an example of a jarcha and its translation to modern Spanish?

An example of a jarcha is: '¡Tant' amáre, tant'amáre, habib, tant' amáre! Enfermiron welios nidios e dólen tan málē.' Translated to modern Spanish, it would be: '¡De tanto amar, de tanto amar, amigo, de tanto amar! Enfermaron unos ojos antes sanos y que ahora duelen mucho.'