Analysis of Valencian Poetry: Franco’s Impact and Estellés’ Legacy
The Impact of the Franco Regime on Valencian Culture
The consolidation of the Franco regime led to an unprecedented retraction of the normalization process that had begun in early 20th century Valencia. Repression took on a double dimension:
1. Ideological and Political Repression
Basic democratic freedoms, human rights, and national fundamentals were denied. Any language other than Castilian Spanish was prohibited. The Franco regime attempted to reduce the use of Valencian, confining it exclusively to the family sphere. However, from 1945/1946, certain cultural expressions, like traditional nativity plays (Els Pastorets), began to be authorized.
2. Physical Repression
Following the Civil War, arrests and executions were commonplace. Notably, on May 4, 1941, the Rector of Valencia, Pere Joan Baptista Viandres, was executed. He later became the subject of a book dedicated to the last executions under Franco’s rule (1939-1956).
The Valencian Language and Literary Resistance
In the 1950s, entities promoting the Valencian language emerged, driven by figures like Carles Salvador. At the Faculty of Philology, scholars like Joan Fuster, Manuel Sanchis Guarner, and Vicent Ventura studied Catalan language and literature, which had been damaged during the Franco era. In 1962, Joan Fuster’s influential work, “Nosaltres, els valencians,” provided a socio-political vision of Valencia, challenging the prevailing anti-Catalanist sentiment propagated by figures like José Ombuena in the newspaper Las Provincias.
The Rise of Vicente Andrés Estellés
Vicente Andrés Estellés (Burjassot, 1929 – Valencia, 1993) was a prominent Valencian poet. Joan Fuster considered him the best Valencian poet since Ausiàs March and Jaume Roig. Estellés was largely self-taught. He moved to Madrid to study journalism and published some poems in Castilian Spanish in magazines. He returned to Valencia in 1948 and began working at Las Provincias.
Estellés’ poetic work can be divided into four categories:
- Civil Poetry: Historical and geographical in nature, with elements of political denunciation. It aims to define the Valencian community, referencing its cultural unity and the impact of the war and postwar period.
- Everyday Poetry: Poems about daily events related to children and other people, reflecting his personal and professional life. He uses a direct and colloquial language to portray reality.
- Existential Poetry (1950s-1970s): More intimate and personal, exploring themes of death, love, and individual and collective struggles.
- Imaginative Poetry: Playful and mimicking children’s games. Reflects life in its most elemental sense.
Analysis of Estellés’ “Lullaby”
The poem “Lullaby” from Estellés’ book “The Night” (1953-1956) was written after the death of his young daughter. The poem expresses a sense of comfort to his deceased daughter, whose presence he feels everywhere. The theme of death is central, and the tone is nostalgic.
On a phonetic level, the alliteration of /m/ evokes death and sadness. The poem has many pauses, creating a slow pace. The second part features the alliteration of /r/, adding intensity. The poem is not very sonorous due to the alliteration of /s/, /m/, and /r/.
On a lexical-semantic level, the repetition of the adjective “small” emphasizes the tragedy of his daughter’s death. The register is colloquial yet includes some learned terms. Syntactically, the anaphora “I have a little death” is repeated throughout the poem, creating emphasis. The poem uses octosyllabic verses and assonance rhyme.
Analysis of an Égloga
Églogues typically depict conversations and events that occur between shepherds in a rustic setting. However, this particular poem places us in a work environment, creating a bizarre and unusual atmosphere for an égloga.
The poem features two characters, two girls who express their love for each other. “Galatea” begins by narrating how she discovered her love, followed by “Melibea” who shares her own feelings.
The poem employs an ironic and humorous tone. The humor mimics the traditional characters of the égloga, while the irony arises from the shift in setting from a pastoral landscape to an office environment. The poem incorporates French words, along with some Latin and English terms. Repetitions like “Ma petite…” and expressions like “je t’aime” and “I love you” emphasize the theme of love.
The first verse features the alliteration of /s/ (e.g., “candidíssimes,” “sensibilíssims”), creating intensity. This alliteration reappears in the third, fourth, and sixth verses, highlighting sensuality. The constant repetition of “lamp” throughout the poem emphasizes passion.