Coplas a la muerte de su padre

Jorge Manrique’s Coplas feels incredibly intimate for a medieval work. I wonder what motivated him to explore mortality so openly—was it personal grief or a broader cultural perspective?

The reflections on mortality feel surprisingly modern at times. It makes me curious whether readers today connect differently with these themes than people did centuries ago.

The rhythm and form seem to reinforce the contemplative mood. I wonder if the structure was designed to mirror the cycle of life and death or if it evolved naturally from the poet’s style.