Spanish Literary Movements: Novecento, Avant-Garde, Gen ’27
20th Century Spanish Literary Movements
Novecento: Intellectual & Poetic Renewal
This movement is notable for its contributions to the essay, novel, and poetry:
- Essay: José Ortega y Gasset, with a clear and careful style, addresses various topics in his writings, such as culture, art, and daily life.
- Novel: Ramón Pérez de Ayala.
- Poetry: Juan Ramón Jiménez, whose work evolves from the intimacy found in Arias Tristes to the naked poetry of Diario de un poeta recién casado. His poetry evolves over time.
Avant-Garde Movements: Breaking Tradition
European Avant-Garde Currents
- Futurism: Defends the break with traditional culture. Key figure: Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.
- Cubism: Advocates for the autonomy of the artwork. Key figure: Guillaume Apollinaire.
- Dada: Aims to demonstrate the absurdity of life. Key figure: Tristan Tzara.
- Surrealism: Advocates for a total revolution of human beings through imagination and poetry. Key figure: André Breton.
Spanish Avant-Garde Movements
- Creacionismo: The poet breaks with existing reality and creates a new reality that makes sense on its own. Key figures: Gerardo Diego and Vicente Huidobro.
- Ultraism: Aims to give greater importance to image and metaphor, removing narrative elements. Key figures: Pedro Garfias and Guillermo de Torre.
Generación del 27: Innovation & Legacy
Formal & Thematic Aspects of Gen ’27
Key characteristics:
- Lexical Renewal: Incorporates colloquialisms and words beyond traditional poetic metrics.
- Formal Freedom: Seeks a balanced interest in traditional forms like the sonnet or romance, alongside the use of blank verse and free verse.
- Themes: Love and death are central.
Evolutionary Stages of Generación del 27
- Avant-Garde Influence: Influenced by European avant-gardes, they tend towards the ideal of pure poetry, attempting to eliminate human and sentimental elements.
- Commitment: Embrace personal feelings and existential or social questions.
- Rupture: After the Civil War, the group broke up. Common themes include paradise lost, memories, and nostalgia for Spain.
Leading Poets of Generación del 27
Pedro Salinas: The Poet of Love
His poetry seeks a union with the absolute. The simplicity of form contrasts with the complexity of its meaning. Notable works include La voz a ti debida and Razón de amor.
Gerardo Diego: The Eclectic Poet
Known for his versatility and mastery of various poetic forms.
Federico García Lorca: Poet of Frustration
In his poetry, there’s a mix of religion and popular culture, inspiration and the frustration of unfulfilled desires. His work portrays the human being who cannot achieve what they desire. His trajectory moves from intimate works that sing to people to his production reflecting solidarity. Among his works: Poema del cante jondo, Poeta en Nueva York, and Sonetos del amor oscuro.
Rafael Alberti: The Versatile Poet
His early compositions, like Marinero en tierra, show a traditional tone. He developed surrealism in Sobre los ángeles and, after the war, evolved into committed poetry.
Luis Cernuda: Between Reality & Desire
His poetry explores loneliness, longing for love, and a rejection of excessive musicality. He employs refined and colloquial language.
Argumentative Texts: Structure & Purpose
Key Features of Argumentative Writing
Argumentative texts are characterized by:
- Variety of themes
- Subjectivity
- Use of arguments of authority
- Persuasion
- Clarity and order
- Specific purpose
Characteristics of Argumentative Speech
Argumentative speech typically features:
- Orality
- Directness/Conciseness
- Clear theme
- Subjectivity
- Careful language
- Clarity and order (Coherence, Cohesion, Adequacy)
- Defined structure: Introduction, Development, Conclusion