Literary Movements in Spain: Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
In the late nineteenth century, Modernism in Spain appears to coexist with a group of intellectuals called the Generation of ’98. Both literary movements perceive the movement of history passing the country with dissatisfaction, but while the Modernists seek escape from reality through the expression of fantasy, luxury, and sensuality (musicality, colors, textures, aromas, etc.), the noventayochistas‘ topics are of current Spanish issues, and the style is more sober.
The theme and style of the two groups require the use of distinct terminology.
- Modernists create a more cosmopolitan and extravagant rhetoric through the introduction of neologisms and cultism.
- The lexicon of noventayochistas is simple: they seek clarity and sometimes even use archaisms to give a greater sense of authenticity and popular spirit.
Usually included in Modernism are Ruben Dario, Manuel Machado, and Francisco Villaespesa, and in the Generation of ’98 are Miguel de Unamuno, Pío Baroja, and Azorín.
Other writers like Antonio Machado and Valle-Inclan are difficult to classify because they have characteristics of the two literary groups.
The literary genre used in Modernism is lyric poetry, in which many metric innovations are introduced. The novel and the essay, which are well suited to developing the most diverse topics, will be the most common expressive forms of the ’98 authors.
Modernism
Modernism is a literary movement born in Latin America in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and spread to Spain by Ruben Dario. Its formation process was influenced decisively by two artistic movements of French origin: Parnassianism (return to mythology and Greco-Latin antiquity) and Symbolism (attribution of subjective meanings to colors, etc.).
Modernism had a brief boom and can be considered finished around 1915, but its importance was decisive for the positive developments in Spanish literature, as it assumed the first total renovation. Modernism was, above all, a poetic movement, although it also cultivated the novel and the theater. In poetry, two main lines can be distinguished: one that deals with past or alien matters, and another that leads to the expression of the poet’s privacy, and in both, the search for beauty is perceptible.
Modernist poets exploit all the possibilities of language in search of beauty. Color is fundamental, and chromatic adjectives cover the entire range. The Modernist poet has a very rich lexicon (technical, cultism, etc.) to create sonority.
The musicality of the verse is another element that is taken care of in the compositions. The musical sense is given by the ability to use the metric. Carefully chosen accents provide a musical rhythm to the poem.
Key Figures in Spanish Modernism
In Spain, the propeller of the Modernist movement can be considered to be Salvador Rueda. The most important figures are Antonio Machado (Soledades, Galerías y otros poemas) and Juan Ramón Jiménez (Arias tristes, Jardines lejanos and Sonetos espirituales), although both evolved beyond Modernism. In these two authors and some others, such as Manuel Machado and Eduardo Marquina, the position takes on a more intimate tone, with expressions closer to Symbolism.
In terms of narrative and theater, we must highlight the works of Valle-Inclán (Sonatas) and the theatrical work of Eduardo Marquina (Las hijas del Cid).