Along with Amadis de Gaul, Tirant lo Blanc was a piece of literature that greatly influenced Cervantes in his writing of Don Quijote. It is a medieval book of chivalrous theme which in English translates to “The White Knight.” The novel was written by Joanot Martorell and finished by Marti Joan De Galba. The novel itself was published in Valencia in 1490. Like many other tales of knights, Tirant lo Blanc is about a knight who travels across Europe encountering adventures and joining in competition. The knight then joins the Greeks in war against the Turks and defeats them. The book continues as the knight fights against the Moors in Northern Africa. This novel is also credited with rewriting the loss of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire into how the Christians would have rather desired the outcome to be. During the scene were the barber and priest are throwing Don Quijote's chivalrous novels into the fire the book is mentioned. Along with the previously mentioned Amadis, Tirant lo Blanc is labeled as being one of the best books ever within the dialogue in Don Quijote. This serves as Cervantes' cue to what literature he is spoofing in Don Quijote. The fantasy adventures in Tirant lo Blanc serve as the basis for the character Don Quijote's thinking and rationality in terms of how he should act being a knight. Another parallel between the two works is the role of a beautiful princess to which the knight longs for in Tirant she is the heiress to the Empire and in Don Quijote it is lady Dulcinea del Toboso. Works Consulted:
Hintz, Suzanne S. "Tirant Lo Blanc: an Analysis of Its Transitional Styles." Catholic University of America. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/RLA-Archive/1992/Spanish- html/Hintz%2CSuzanne.htm>.
Along with Amadis de Gaul, Tirant lo Blanc was a piece of literature that greatly influenced Cervantes in his writing of Don Quijote. It is a medieval book of chivalrous theme which in English translates to “The White Knight.” The novel was written by Joanot Martorell and finished by Marti Joan De Galba. The novel itself was published in Valencia in 1490. Like many other tales of knights, Tirant lo Blanc is about a knight who travels across Europe encountering adventures and joining in competition. The knight then joins the Greeks in war against the Turks and defeats them. The book continues as the knight fights against the Moors in Northern Africa. This novel is also credited with rewriting the loss of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire into how the Christians would have rather desired the outcome to be. During the scene were the barber and priest are throwing Don Quijote's chivalrous novels into the fire the book is mentioned. Along with the previously mentioned Amadis, Tirant lo Blanc is labeled as being one of the best books ever within the dialogue in Don Quijote. This serves as Cervantes' cue to what literature he is spoofing in Don Quijote. The fantasy adventures in Tirant lo Blanc serve as the basis for the character Don Quijote's thinking and rationality in terms of how he should act being a knight. Another parallel between the two works is the role of a beautiful princess to which the knight longs for in Tirant she is the heiress to the Empire and in Don Quijote it is lady Dulcinea del Toboso.
Works Consulted:
Hintz, Suzanne S. "Tirant Lo Blanc: an Analysis of Its Transitional Styles." Catholic University of America. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/RLA-Archive/1992/Spanish- html/Hintz%2CSuzanne.htm>.
"Tirante El Blanco." Wikipedia. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirante_el_Blanco>.