SOURCE: Friedman, Edward H. “The Writerly Edge: A Question of Structure in the Poema de mio Cid.” La Corónica 18, no. 2 (fall 1989-90): 11-20.

In the following essay, Friedman suggests that applying the concept of intertextuality to the Cantar de mio Cid can shed light on the poem's composition and use of interwoven traditions, offering a different approach to the lingering debate regarding the work's authorship.

The Poema de Mio Cid causes certain obvious problems for literary analysis. The more that is known about the conditions under which a work was produced, the greater the foundation for critical scrutiny. In this case, the identity of the author, the date and form of composition, and sources are open issues. Research on the Poema continues to be influenced by opposing visions of the medieval epic associated with the theories of Ramón Menéndez Pidal in Spain and Joseph B...