YUSEF ABUL HAGIG.

THE
FINISHER OF THE
ALHAMBRA.
(WASHINGTON IRVINGS
TA L E S O F T H E A L H A M B R A
1832)
AMANDA SERRANO
EMM A ORT I Z M U RC I A

SUMMARY
The author tells the story of Yusef Abul Hagig, the Moslem prince in Granada
who was the finisher of the work started by Alhamar, the founder of the
Alhambra.

REAL AND HISTORICAL FACTS AND

CHARACTERS

He [Yusef] ascended the throne of Granada in the year of grace 1333 [...]
he undertook a great campaign, in conjunction with the king of Morocco,
against the kings of Castile and Portugal, but was defeated in the
memorable battle of Salado it took place in the present-day
province of Cdiz.
Yusef obtained a long truce after this defeat Castile entered in the
Hundred Years War as an ally of France, and that was the reason
for the mentioned truce.
Alfonso XI of Castile, took the field with great force, and laid siege to
Gibraltar
his dreaded foe [ Alfonso XI] had suddenly fallen a victim to the plague

Introduction:

STRUCTURE

Presentation of the protagonist -> Combination of historical piece of

information (year of coronation of King Yusuf I in 1333) with a description of
his:
(1) Outward appearance (noble presence,great bodily strength, and a
fair complexin, suffering his beard to grow to a dignified length and
dying it black)
(2) Inner characteristics: His manners were gentle, affable, and urbane;
he carried the benignity of his nature into warfare, prohibiting all wanton
cruelty, and enjoining mercy and protection towards women and children, the
aged and infirm, his genius was more for peace than war
he had an excellent memory, and had stored his mind with science and
erudition
devoting himself to the instruction of his people and the improvement of
their morals

STRUCTURE
Introduction:
Special attention to buildings and architectural works carried
out by Yusef (real references of the places)
Description of:
(a) Time: ascended the throne of Granada in the year of
grace 1333, in the year 1354, as he was one day praying
(b) Setting: the nobles of Granada [...] soon filled the city of
Granada with magnificent palaces, the walls and ceiling
wrought in fretwork, and delicately gilded and painted with
azure, vermilion, and other brilliant colors many of the
fountains, which threw up jets of water to refresh and cool the

STRUCTURE
Body: development of the event
one anecdote will be sufficient to show the magnanimity of
this generous prince. The long truce which had succeeded the
battle of Salado was at an end, and every effort of Yusef to
renew it was in vain.
his dreaded foe had suddenly fallen a victim to the plague.
The same reverence for the deceased was observed by all
the Moorish commanders on the frontiers, who suffered the
funeral train to pass in safety, bearing the corpse of the
Christian sovereign from Gibraltar to Seville

STRUCTURE
Conclusion:
Yusef did not long survive the enemy he had so generously
deplored. In the year 1354...
The mosque still exists which once resounded with the dying
cries of Yusef, but the monument which reorded his virtues has
long since disappeared.

STRUCTURE
Enhancing the qualities of Yusuf:
and though repeatedly obliged by circumstances to take up
arms, he was generally unfortunate
The genius of a sovereign stamps a character upon his time
the elegant and graceful taste of Yusef
Yusef reluctantly took up arms
Granada, in the days of Yusef, was as a silver vase filled with
emeralds and jacinths
and was touched with a noble sorrow.

STRUCTURE
Pieces of information that contribute to the effect of
veracity:
described by Moslem writers and the majesty of his
countenance increased, say they....
...he was accounted the best poet of his time
... to use the beautiful simile of an Arabian writer, Granada,
in the days of Yusef, was as a silver vase
The Spanish chroniclers themselves [...] according to their
accounts
the mosque still exists which once resounded with the dying
cries of Yusef
His name, however, remains inscribed among the

STRUCTURE