19th-Century Spanish Literary Movements
Romanticism in Spain
Romanticism was introduced in Spain progressively and in different stages.
Characteristics:
- Free search: A quest for complete freedom.
- Subjectivism and individualism.
- Transformation: Feelings and ideals of life.
- Idealism: Absolute nature of life, expressing mood through storms, seas, etc.
- Return to the past: An attempt to escape from a distressing reality.
- Breaking the everyday world with the supernatural and mysterious.
- Momentum: The defense of progress, scientific progress, and history.
- Nationalism: Exaltation of all that distinguishes their country.
Themes:
Story, love, passion, life, death, destiny.
Style:
- Abundance of adjectives.
- Cultivated and popular words.
- Search for and use of the expressive function.
- Employment of literary resources.
Romantic Poetry
Search for new forms of expression.
Lyrical Poetry
Two stages:
- First half of the 19th century: Patriotic themes.
- Second half of the 19th century: More intimate and social themes.
Narrative Poetry
- Long narrative poem:
- Historical poem
- Philosophical poem
- Short narrative poem:
- Romance
- Legend
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Structure of the Rhymes: 79 poems:
- I-XI: Writing and his inspiration.
- XII-XXIX: Love illustrated.
- XXX-LI: Disappointment in love.
- LII-LXXVI: Pain and distress.
Characterized by simplicity.
Rosalía de Castro
Her poetry was exceptional, with a sensitive and direct tone, dominant in the post-Romantic period.
Works:
- In Galician: Cantares Gallegos and Follas Novas.
- In Castilian: En las Orillas del Sar.
Historical Novel
Based on the search for reviving past eras.
Important Titles:
- El Doncel de Don Enrique el Doliente by Mariano José de Larra.
- El Señor de Bembibre by Enrique Gil y Carrasco.
Mariano José de Larra
Influenced the Generation of ’98. This author is famous for his articles, which are classified as:
- Articles of manners.
- Political articles.
- Literary articles.
Realism
Realism was a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in Europe while Romanticism still persisted in literary and political life. It defended the representation of reality as truthfully and accurately as possible.
Characteristics:
- Reflecting reality as it is, showing not only agreeable aspects but also unpleasant ones.
- Realists sought accurate, meticulous, and precise descriptions.
- Analysis and observation.
- Tilt towards the novel.
- Objectivity.
- Social criticism.
- Contemporary contextualization.
Naturalism
Both Naturalism and Positivism defended that humans are determined by the laws of heredity; therefore, humans are not free.
Characteristics:
- Analysis of reality focuses on unpleasant aspects like illness or marginalization.
- Search for the root of the problem: Causes that provoke the evils in their work.
- Attempt to find solutions: Healthy and educational alternatives.
- Bringing literature to scientific concepts and precepts.
Realistic Narrative
Features:
- Likelihood: The story told must be credible, even if it is invented.
- Real people: It leaves behind Romantic heroes.
- Social issues: The conflicts in society at that time.
- Frame: Use of the technique of in medias res.
- Space frame.
- Style: Narrators in the 1st and 3rd person, free indirect style, and interior monologue.
Juan Valera
His main objective is the pursuit of beauty.
Outstanding Works:
- Pepita Jiménez
- Juanita la Larga
Emilia Pardo Bazán
Los Pazos de Ulloa or La Cuestión Palpitante.
Benito Pérez Galdós
Features:
- Themes:
- Social criticism: Bourgeois.
- Political analysis of the moment.
- Religion and clergy.
- Characters: Special attention to psychological portraits.
- Style: Characterized by masterly descriptions of environments and comprehensive documentation. Humor, irony, and spontaneity are also present.
Works:
- Episodios Nacionales: Using fictional characters, he narrated a series of stories that are included in authentic historical facts.
- Novels:
- Novels of the first period: Political load.
- Contemporary novels: Portrait of Madrid society.
- Spiritualist novels: They include evangelical and Christian values.