O vos dubitantes, creed las istorias e los infortunios de los humanales! Allegorical fiction and ways of “recontar” in Íñigo López de Mendoza’s “decires narrativos”

Abstract

Íñigo López de Mendoza’s “decires narrativos” are considered to be the best literary works related to the adaptation of allegorical fiction in Hispanic medieval literature. One of the main procedures in the process of composing these plays is based on the selection of the stylistic ways used to recreate fiction. Taking this hypothesis as a starting point, the aim of this study is to focus on the detection and the interpretation of theses stylistic options with the help of the tools and knowledge brought to us by the Philology. Of the many forms of expression which could be associated with 15th century Spanish language, this study particularly highlights three stylistic ways: the influence of Latin lexis, loanwords and phrases with diacritic words.