How did the Enlightenment change literary criticism in 18th-century Spain?

In 18th-century Spain, the Enlightenment fundamentally transformed literary criticism by shifting the focus toward rationalism, linguistic purity, and the systematic study of national heritage. The establishment of the Real Academia Española in 1713, modeled after the French Academy, institutionalized the effort to guard the integrity and elegance of the Castilian language.12

This era saw intense debates between proponents of traditional values and those advocating for new, Enlightenment-driven approaches. Scholars began to look beyond Spain’s borders, discovering how the nation had diverged from Western European intellectual trends, which prompted a re-examination of medieval literature and the revival of interest in historical figures like Cervantes.1

Key developments in criticism included:
* Neoclassical Polemics: Figures such as Ignacio de Luzán Claramunt introduced Neoclassical poetics, emphasizing the "rules" of drama, such as the unities of time, place, and action.1
* Encyclopaedic Inquiry: Scholars like Benito Jerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro and Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos applied critical, rationalist methods to diverse fields, including literature, science, and social reform, effectively challenging superstition and prejudice.1
* Revival of Classics: The period fostered a scholarly rediscovery of earlier Spanish works, such as the Poema de mío Cid, which laid the groundwork for later literary movements.13