Spanish Literary Movements: Realism to Novecentismo
The Realistic Novel: Features and Techniques
The realistic novel features detailed descriptions of environments and characters. While the position of the writers is not totally objective, they utilize resources such as irony, characterization, and comparison.
Key characteristics include:
- Use of the omniscient point of view.
- The narrator can make comments to influence readers.
- The narrator has knowledge of the characters’ feelings, thoughts, and dreams.
- Predominance of themes focusing on conflicts between progress and tradition, institutions, or social classes and their habits.
- Use of a sober and simple style.
Benito Pérez Galdós: Master of Spanish Realism
Benito Pérez Galdós is considered one of the best storytellers in the Spanish language and the most representative author of the realistic novel. His novel output is distinguished by the Episodios Nacionales, inspired by nineteenth-century Spanish history.
Galdós’s novels stem from the observation of his own time and aimed at improving the country’s life. These novels are typically divided into three groups:
- Novels of Thesis: Focus on the clash between liberal and conservative ideology, often through symbolic characters. Doña Perfecta is included in this group.
- Contemporary Novels: Their critical purpose is evident from the position of the omniscient narrator. The most representative title is Fortunata and Jacinta.
- Spiritual Novels: Galdós encrypts his hopes for a better society. Examples include Misericordia and Nazarín.
Modern Poetry: Parnassianism and Symbolism
Modern poetry was influenced by two artistic movements of French origin: Parnassianism and Symbolism. These movements did not aim to bear witness to reality but rather circumvented it through imaginative play and the delight of the senses.
Characteristics of Modern Poetry:
- Focus on plastic effects (touch, smell, taste, and especially sight).
- Strong musical character.
- Two main centers of interest: the expression of the poet’s moods and the creation of exotic and fantastic worlds.
Antonio Machado: From Modernism to Introspection
In his youth, Antonio Machado traveled to France, where he acquired Modernist influences. Machado later lightened his Modernist style, retaining the use of symbols, and dedicated himself to exploring his privacy.
His work, Campos de Castilla, stands out for its profound thoughts about life.
The Novel of Modernism and the Generation of ’98
These novelists favored subjectivism and renewal.
Key Novelists of the Era
- Pío Baroja: Believed the best narrative approach was the accumulation of arbitrary events.
- Miguel de Unamuno: In his work, Niebla (Fog), characters undergo a transformation according to his intentions, which can be idealizing or burlesque.
- José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín): Often identified with one of his fictional characters.
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán and the Grotesque
Valle-Inclán’s grotesque theater (Esperpento) represented a major renewal of drama due to its critical content and its dynamic conception of spatial and temporal rhythm. Furthermore, his language was gritty, ironic, and characterized by great cruelty.
The Essay and Novecentismo
The Essay in Novecentismo
Novecentismo brought together intellectuals from different areas who played an active role in the society of their time. They found the essay to be the ideal medium to disseminate their ideas and knowledge.
The Novecentista Novel
The Novecentista novel continued along the path of subjectivism and renewal. Authors tended to manipulate situations to express their views on diverse topics.
Juan Ramón Jiménez: Poet of Purity
Juan Ramón Jiménez received the Nobel Prize for Literature and has exerted a great influence on later poets. His style is very rich, incorporating features of learned, popular, and avant-garde poetry, driven by the constant search for precise expression.
The central theme in his work is nature. He christened his creative evolution into three stages:
- Sensitive Stage: Nature is treated descriptively.
- Intellectual Stage: Nature serves to exemplify ideas.
- Sufficient Stage: The poet merges with nature.