Generation of ’27 and Narrative Before 1936
T.7. Generation of ’27
1. Introduction
The Generation of ’27 emerged between 1923 (Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship) and 1936 (Spanish Civil War). This period was marked by significant events. Damaso Alonso coined the term “Generation of ’27” in reference to the 300th death anniversary of Luis de Góngora, acknowledging the poet and his influence on poesía pura (pure poetry).
Some of the most important poets of this generation include: Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Pedro Salinas, Vicente Aleixandre, Jorge Guillén, Manuel Altolaguirre, Dámaso Alonso, Gerardo Diego, Luis Cernuda, and Emilio Prados.
Antecedents
- Juan Ramón Jiménez: A guiding figure for many writers of the generation.
- José Ortega y Gasset: His philosophical ideas influenced the generation’s aesthetics, including the dehumanization of art, autonomy of the artistic work, irony, and metaphor.
2. Vanguard and Tradition
The writers of the Generation of ’27 did not completely reject the past. They drew inspiration from earlier authors and styles, synthesizing tradition with avant-garde aesthetics.
- They revived traditional forms of poetry found in neopopularismo, the works of Miguel de Unamuno and Antonio Machado, and symbolist poetry.
- They incorporated elements from various avant-garde movements.
- Most importantly, they fused Spanish literary tradition with European avant-garde influences.
3. Themes and Forms
Themes
- Major life events: love, the universe, fate, death.
- Technical advancements and urban development.
- Sense of freedom as an overarching principle.
- The City: Often depicted with a futuristic vision and optimism.
- Love: Represents the wholeness of the individual, explored in all its forms.
- The Arts: Influenced by avant-garde movements.
- Nature: Conceived as a poetic environment or inspiration.
Forms and Style
- Dominated by imagery, they renewed poetic language and cultivated visionary imagery that connected objects through emotions.
- Combined traditional metrical forms with versos libres (free verse).
Evolution in Three Stages:
- Until 1929: Youthful period characterized by pure, dehumanized poetry.
- Between 1929-1936: Surrealism emerges as a way to express their conflicts, leading to a rehumanization of poetry, influenced by Paul Neruda.
- Since 1939: The generation follows different paths.
4. Authors
1. Rafael Alberti
- Born in Cádiz.
- Cultivated folk poetry in Marinero en Tierra (1925).
- Avant-garde tendencies accentuated in Cal y canto (1927).
- Explored surrealist techniques in Sobre los ángeles (1928).
2. Luis Cernuda
- His work revolves around the impossibility of fulfilling personal desires, as explored in La realidad y el deseo (Reality and Desire).
3. Federico García Lorca
- Born in Granada.
- Showcased a preference for Andalusian themes and forms in Romancero gitano (Gypsy Ballads, 1928).
- Expressed surrealist techniques in Poeta en Nueva York (Poet in New York).
4. Jorge Guillén
- Cántico (Canticle) encompasses his production until 1950, characterized by optimism and enthusiasm for life.
- Clamor (1950-1963) expresses his protest against the historical present.
5. Pedro Salinas
- Followed the lines of pure poetry in works like La voz a ti debida (To You My Voice, 1933).
6. Emilio Prados
- Showed a tendency towards emotionalism in works like Tiempo (Time), which explores life’s problems.
- Later wrote surrealist poetry, including Llanto en la sangre (Crying Blood).
7. Vicente Aleixandre
- Surrealist poet.
- His work abounds with grand, visionary imagery expressed in free verse, as seen in La destrucción o el amor (Destruction or Love, 1933).
8. Gerardo Diego
- Avant-garde influences reflected in Imagen (Image, 1922).
- Creationist constructions predominate in Manual de espumas (Manual of Foams).
9. Manuel Altolaguirre
- Viewed poetry as a source of knowledge and communication, as seen in Las islas invitadas (The Invited Islands).
T.8. Spanish Narrative Before 1936
1. Introduction
Background
- Realism, while dominant, faced challenges from new aesthetic principles that emphasized subjectivity and fragmentation.
- Four key novels from the early 20th century exemplify this shift: La voluntad (The Will) by Azorín, Amor y pedagogía (Love and Pedagogy) by Miguel de Unamuno, Camino de perfección (Road to Perfection) by Pío Baroja, and Sonata de otoño (Autumn Sonata) by Ramón del Valle-Inclán.
Two Streams in Early 20th-Century Narrative:
- Inherited Tradition: Realism and Naturalism, exemplified by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez’s Cañas y barro (Reeds and Mud).
- Emerging Trends:
- Replacement Realism (Baroja)
- Intellectual Novel (Unamuno)
- Modernist Novel (Valle-Inclán)
2. Contributions from the Generation of ’98
- Initiated substantial changes, emphasizing subjectivism, artistic will, and Impressionistic techniques.
- Introduced pessimistic and anxious tones, reflecting concerns about Spain’s decline, as seen in Baroja’s El árbol de la ciencia (The Tree of Knowledge).
- Focused on:
- Pessimism and a view of life as a struggle.
- The assertion of individual will.
- Characters who are misfits.
- Concerns about Spain’s future.
- Placed special importance on:
- Action and plot.
- Intellectual reflection.
- Atmospheric descriptions.
Azorín (José Martínez Ruiz)
- La voluntad (The Will): Blurs the lines between fiction and essay, characterized by introspection and minimal plot.
- Focuses on the passage of time and the exploration of consciousness.
- Style: Clarity of exposition, fragmented structure, intense lyricism, and lengthy dialogues.
Ramón del Valle-Inclán
- Sonata de otoño (Autumn Sonata): Rejects traditional lyricism, culminating in the grotesque—a deformation of reality.
Miguel de Unamuno
- Niebla (Mist): A versatile writer whose work grapples with the problem of Spain and the existential questions of life and death.
- Employs a novelistic approach that is open-ended and encourages reader participation.
- Minimal action, as the focus is on the character’s internal struggles.
3. Influence of the Novecento Movement
- Sought to move beyond Realism by incorporating lyricism, humor, and intellectualism.
Gabriel Miró
- Nuestro Padre San Daniel (Our Father San Daniel): Notable for its stylistic perfection, rhythm, and precision.
Ramón Pérez de Ayala
- Troteras y danzaderas (Pranks and Dances) and Belarmino y Apolonio (Belarmino and Apolonio): Experimental novels exploring the interplay between consciousness, the unconscious, and the subconscious.
Wenceslao Fernández Flórez
- El bosque animado (The Living Forest): Known for its humor and caricature-like characters.
4. The Novel of the Generation of ’27
- Early works influenced by Surrealism, characterized by irrationality and absurdity.
- Later shifted towards social and political concerns.
- Key Figures: Benjamín Jarnés, Max Aub, Francisco Ayala.
- Ramón Gómez de la Serna: La vida entera (The Whole Life) exemplifies the avant-garde spirit of the time.