First Dream

poem by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Also known as: “Primero sueño”

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July 16, 2026

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First Dream (Primero sueño) is an intricate, philosophical poem by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a prominent Mexican writer of the Hispanic Baroque period. Written around 1692, the poem is a complex exploration of the soul's quest for knowledge, employing Baroque literary forms to recount this intellectual journey.12

The poem begins at nightfall, with the soul detaching from the body to enter a dream state. During this dream, the soul attempts to attain complete understanding by following paths of Neoplatonism and Scholasticism. However, as dawn breaks, the dream dissolves, and the body awakens, though the soul resolves to continue its pursuit of knowledge. The poem, spanning 975 lines, is rich with erudition and reflects Sor Juana's lifelong dedication to learning. It is considered her most significant and challenging work.12

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Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Primero sueño (First Dream)
…as the Primero sueño (1692; First Dream, published in A Sor Juana Anthology, 1988), is both personal and universal. The date of its writing is unknown. It employs the convoluted poetic forms of the Baroque to recount the torturous quest of the soul for knowledge. In the poem’s opening, as…
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…as the Primero sueño (1692; First Dream, published in A Sor Juana Anthology, 1988), is both personal and universal. The date of its writing is unknown. It employs the convoluted poetic forms of the Baroque to recount the torturous quest of the soul for knowledge. In the poem’s opening, as…
Read More