Francisco de quevedo biography
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After the death of his father, he became the pupil of Agustín de Villanueva, a noble government official[5†][6†]. Quevedo, who had been Osuna's main operative in Venice, was disillusioned from politics and devoted the rest of his life to writing. These criticisms apply more to Gongora's inept imitators than to Gongora himself, but which nevertheless stuck.
Deriving from "concept", conceptismo is characterized by a quick rhythm, a direct and witty vocabulary and satirical wit. His mother, Madrid-born María de Santibáñez, was lady-in-waiting to the queen[1†]. He was raised in an upper-class atmosphere, largely free of the troubles and conflicts that were to plague him as an adult[5†].
However, Quevedo faced physical challenges.
He had also acquired a reputation among his classmates for his scathing wit and gifts for versification[1†][5†].
Career Development and Achievements
Francisco de Quevedo’s career was as multifaceted as it was influential. In 1601 he moved to Valladolid as a member of the court, where he studied theology. He later pursued studies at the University of Alcalá de Henares, where he delved into philosophy, classical languages, and various foreign tongues.
Literary Accomplishments
Quevedo's literary brilliance was evident from an early age.
These works reveal Quevedo’s deep interest in religious and philosophical matters[1†][8†].
Here are some of Quevedo’s main works along with their first year of publication:
- “Vida del Buscón” (The Life of the Swindler)[1†][7†]
- “La cuna y la sepultura” (The Cradle and the Grave), 1612[1†][8†]
- “La providencia de Dios” (The Providence of God), 1641[1†][8†]
Quevedo’s works had a significant impact on Spanish literature and continue to be studied and appreciated today[1†][4†].
Quevedo's style, which relied on the use of witty conceits and elaborate metaphors, is reflective of his own somewhat cynical attitudes towards literature as a whole; Quevedo was fiercely distrustful of excessively complicated literature, and he attempted to introduce a style of poetry that was, for his time, remarkably clean and concise.
His primary contribution to philosophy falls into the realm of Neostoicism[6†]. This study of the poetry combines a stylistic analysis with a philosophical interpretation in the broad sense[6†][9†]. By the time of his graduation, Quevedo was a master of French, Italian, English, and Latin, as well as his native Spanish[1†][5†]. He only wrote one novel, a picaresque called "El Buscón", in which he tells the life story of a swindler called Don Pablo whose two aims in life are becoming a gentleman and learning virtue, but he fails miserably at both.
He was considered a master of the elaborate style of baroque Spanish poetry, known as conceptismo[1†][5†]. He continued his studies for ten years, transferring halfway through his educational career to the University of Valladolid. He was clubfooted and shortsighted[5†][6†]. This resulted in the commonplaces having only a vestigial association with their models[6†][10†].
His satires were particularly renowned, with works such as "The Hour of Retribution" and "Dreams" (1606-1623). Although he was flattered, Quevedo was not interested in a literary life. His mastery of language and his ability to convey complex ideas through his writing have ensured his place as one of the most important figures of the Spanish Golden Age[1†].
Analysis and Evaluation
Francisco de Quevedo was a consummate humanist and pioneer of the literary movement known as Baroque conceptismo[6†].