20th Century European and Spanish Literature: Social Context, Movements, and Literary Trends
20th Century European Literature
European Social Context
Social Events:
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Russian Revolution (1917)
- Rise of Fascism (Benito Mussolini in 1933, Hitler’s rise to power and implementation of National Socialism in 1933)
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
- Cold War and the division of Europe (1947)
- Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)
- Treaty of Rome and the formation of the European Union (1957)
- End of the Cold War and German Reunification (1989-1990)
Sociocultural Movements:
- The Vanguards: Intellectuals rejecting bourgeois norms and seeking new forms of artistic expression after the war.
Thinking Currents
- Existentialism: A philosophical movement exploring themes of individual existence, freedom, and responsibility. Key figures include Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger.
- Psychoanalysis: Developed by Sigmund Freud, focusing on the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior.
- Marxism: A socio-economic theory analyzing class relations and advocating for revolution and a classless society. Developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Spanish Social Context
Key Periods:
- The Disaster of ’98 to 1923: Loss of Spain’s last overseas colonies (Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines) and the subsequent intellectual and cultural response.
- The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1930): A period of authoritarian rule marked by the suppression of dissent.
- The Second Republic (1931-1939): A period of democratic government that ended with the Spanish Civil War.
- The Franco Regime (1939-1975): A period of dictatorship under Francisco Franco.
- Democracy (from 1975): The transition to democracy, the adoption of the 1978 Constitution, and Spain’s integration into the European Union.
The Narrative Leading to the Civil War
The Generation of ’98
Origins and Influences: A Spanish literary movement focused on cultural and aesthetic renewal in response to the country’s decline.
Key Figures: Azorín, Ramiro de Maeztu, and Pío Baroja, who initially formed the “Group of Three” and advocated for social change.
Characteristics:
- Europeanism and a desire to modernize Spain.
- Sobriety in language and style.
- Subjectivism and individual perspectives on Spain’s problems.
- Idealization of the Castilian landscape.
- Philosophical reflections on life, religion, and existence.
Novecento Novel
Characteristics:
- Intellectualism and a focus on form and aesthetics.
- European influences and a connection to official life.
Authors:
- Gabriel Miró: Known for his melancholic style, sensory descriptions, and lack of action.