Modernism in Spanish American Literature: A Deep Dive
1. Modernism
Modernism, a Spanish American literary movement born in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, was introduced to Spain by Rubén Darío following the publication of his book Prose Profane. Its crucial importance lies in the complete renovation of Spanish poetry.
The Modernist Revolution
Modernism had a profound impact on Spanish poetry:
- It introduced foreign literary movements to Spain, including French Parnasianism and Symbolism, along with decadent works from England and Italy. Rubén Darío masterfully synthesized these influences with elements of Romantic poetry.
- Literature adopted an aristocratic air, focusing on the exaltation of beauty. Historical circumstances and social problems were disregarded.
- Writers embraced a lifestyle aligned with their artistic vision: bohemianism. They displayed contempt for bourgeois life and practicality, immersing themselves in the world of cafes, conversations, and nightlife.
Themes
Modernist themes can be categorized into two main lines: exotic or past subjects and the expression of the poet’s inner self (a trace of Romanticism).
- The escapist line is the most prominent. Modernist poets sought exotic beauty and bygone eras. Their rich imaginations allowed them to create vivid verbal pictures with intricate details, drawing inspiration from diverse locations like Japan and Paris. Eroticism and amoral behavior were often depicted as expressions of an anti-bourgeois rebellious spirit (a characteristic of Modernism).
- The inner line allowed poets to express their discontent with their surroundings. Love and the world were viewed with melancholy and sadness. Nostalgia and anxiety permeated uninhabited landscapes or autumnal twilight gardens, revealing clear Romantic roots.
Style and Meter
Modernist poets explored the full potential of language to achieve their desired aesthetic. Color played a key role, with adjectives spanning the entire spectrum.
The musicality of the verse was another crucial element, adapting to the themes. Strong rhythms were employed for grand subjects, while gentle melodies accompanied delicate emotions.
Modernist poets used a rich and refined vocabulary. They also employed alliteration, synesthesia, and bold imagery. Their metrical preferences leaned towards the Alexandrine, the hendecasyllable, and the dodecasyllable, which were rarely used before.
In stanzas, they sought variety, blending traditional and innovative structures.
Spanish Modernist Poets
Rubén Darío, Salvador Rueda, Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Manuel Machado, Francisco Villaespesa, and Eduardo Marquina.
1.3. The Poetry of Antonio Machado
Machado’s poetry is profound and serious. His themes are diverse, encompassing intimacy, memories, the Castilian landscape, concern for Spain, and the arrival of death. In terms of meter, he favored popular forms. His style is deceptively simple, characterized by the absence of rhetorical complexities: sober and clear.
His early work, often associated with the book “Loneliness” (1903), later reissued in 1907 as “Solitudes, Galleries and Other Poems”, reveals a connection to Modernism and the Becquerian tradition of intimacy.
On the other hand, “Campos de Castilla” (1912 and 1917) represents a side closer to the Generation of ’98. This poetry is more realistic and objective. Alongside the landscapes of Soria, Machado reflects on the ills of Spain, echoing the concerns of the Generation of ’98.
Between these two lines, there exists a common thread in Antonio Machado’s work: an understanding of poetry as a “keyword in time.”
1.4. The Poetic Works of Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez’s poetic journey is marked by a total dedication to poetry and a relentless pursuit of beauty. His poetry evolved from Modernism to a unique personal style.
Juan Ramón Jiménez’s influence on the generation of poets of the 1920s was crucial to their approach to poetry. Therefore, he is often associated with Novecentismo.
His poetry can be divided into the following stages:
The sensitive stage, which lasts until 1915, is inspired by Modernism. Soft musicality in short meters and vague settings in twilight landscapes are the dominant notes of Arias Tristes and Jardín lejano. Traces of Romanticism and Symbolism are perceptible in these works.
The following years led to the intellectual stage, represented by Diario de un poeta recién casado. Juan Ramón Jiménez paves the way for pure poetry. In addition to incorporating external elements (the sea, people, and limes from New York), he introduces a new mode of expression: a blend of prose and verse. Language is condensed to capture the essence of things.
The third or sufficient stage unfolds in exile. His self-imposed isolation and self-absorption are emphasized. In Animal de fondo and Dios deseado y deseante, he attempts a total poetry.