Joan de Castellnou

Joan de Castelnou or Castellnou (fl. 1341–1355) was a troubadour of the Consistori del Gay Saber active in Toulouse. He left behind five or six "cansos", three "vers", a "dansa", a "conselh", and a "sirventes". His most famous works are non-lyric, however: a grammar ("compendi") called "Las flors del gay saber, estier dichas las Leys d'amors" and a glossary ("glosari") on the "Doctrinal" (1324) of his predecessor, Raimon de Cornet.

Joan's "Glosari", usually dated to 1341, is a critical analysis of the "Doctrinal", not a complete grammar in and of itself. His "Leys", however, is the latest and largest medieval Occitan grammatical treatise written with intention of preserving the literary form of the language. It is highly systematic and highly prescriptive. Its double title indicates the close relationship in the medieval lyrical tradition between the science of poetry ("gay saber") and the art of love ("amors"). The dating of the "Leys" is less certain, Boase puts it between 1328 and 1337, [Boase, 5.] while Jeanroy places it later, in 1355. It was probably commissioned by the Consistori to be a compendium of grammatical knowledge for a wide audience and to "unveil" the secret art of poetry. Its author—who goes unnamed, but is usually identified with Joan today—also seeks to restrain lovers from dishonest love. [Boase, 6.] A parallel has been noticed between the "Leys" and the prologue of the "Libro de Buen Amor" of Juan Ruiz. [Boase, 53 n8.]

ources

*Boase, Roger (1977). "The Origin and Meaning of Courtly Love: A Critical Study of European Scholarship". Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 0 87471 950 x.
*Grinina, Yelena. [http://hispanismo.cervantes.es/documentos/grinina.pdf "Algunas tendencias de la descripción de la gramática en los primerostratados provenzales y catalanes."] Instituto Estatal de Relaciones Internacionales de Moscú.
*Jeanroy, Alfred (1934). "La poésie lyrique des troubadours". Toulouse: Privat.

External links

* [http://www.rialc.unina.it/inc-j.castellnou.htm Incipitario di Joan de Castellnou]

Notes