El tiempo poético en el Cantar de mio Cid

Abstract

Time and space are of foremost importance in the dramatic economy of medieval epic poems because they serve the important function of situating the reader spatially and chronologically. In the Cantar de Mio Cid, the poet places particular emphasis on the theme of time, enumerating the years, months, weeks, and days for his reader to present his narrative as a verisimilar, if not historic, chronicle. This study seeks to interrogate the time that elapses from the beginning of the poem to the end, arguing that the poet’s penchant for relative chronological precision betrays an effort to convey his story as historical fact. His ability to weave fiction and reality has greatly contributed to the Cantar’s timelessness, one that renders it relevant even in our modern society. The representation of time helps create the illusion of realism, helping to humanize Rodrigo Díaz and heightening the dramatic impact of the poem.