Mester de Juglaría facts for kids

Mester de juglaría was a special kind of storytelling in Spain a long, long time ago. It happened in the 12th and 13th centuries. Think of it like traveling performers called "juglares" (jongleurs). They would go around telling and singing exciting stories. They often performed in public places or even for kings and queens in palaces! Besides stories, they might do acrobatics or other fun acts.

What was Mester de Juglaría?

Mester de juglaría means "the craft of the jongleur." These stories were usually passed down by word of mouth. This means they were not written down at first. The juglares learned them by listening and then told them to others.

Who were the Juglares?

Juglares were like medieval entertainers. They made their living by performing for people. They would travel from town to town. Their shows included telling stories, singing songs, and sometimes even doing tricks. They were very important for sharing news and entertainment in their time.

What Kind of Stories Did They Tell?

Most of the stories from Mester de juglaría were called "cantares de gesta." These were long poems about heroes and their brave adventures. They often told tales of knights, battles, and important historical events. The stories were put into verses, which made them easier to remember and sing.

How Did the Stories Change?

Since these stories were told orally, they often changed a little bit each time. Imagine a game of "telephone" but with epic poems! Juglares might add new parts or change old ones. This made each performance unique.

There are different ideas about how much these stories changed.

• The individualist theory says that one poet first created each story. It suggests the stories did not change much as they were told.
• The traditionalist theory believes the stories were a group effort. It says the public helped shape them over time. This theory suggests the stories changed a lot as they traveled.

Mester de Juglaría vs. Mester de Clerecía

Mester de juglaría was different from another style called Mester de Clerecía.

• Juglaría stories were by unknown authors. Clerecía stories were by educated writers, often monks.
• Juglaría talked about popular topics that everyone could relate to. Clerecía focused on religious or scholarly themes.
• The language in juglaría was simple and easy to understand. Clerecía used more complex words.
• The rhythm of the verses in juglaría was often irregular. Clerecía had a very strict and regular rhythm.

Famous Examples

The most famous example of Mester de juglaría is Cantar de Mio Cid. This is a very important epic poem about a Spanish hero named El Cid. Another known work is Representación de los Reyes Magos, which is an early play.

See also

In Spanish: Mester de juglaría para niños