Spanish Literature: 1902 to the Avant-Garde Movements
Generation of 27: Key Characteristics and Stages
Characteristics of the Generation of 27
The Generation of 27 rejected Modernist traits. The group was characterized by members with a strong university background, often from affluent families, who held progressive and left-leaning views. Their poems were frequently published in magazines. Key figures like Pedro Salinas and Gerardo Diego formed influential groups.
Influences
- Popular poetry
- Cultured poetry of Góngora
- Bécquer
- Spanish and European poets
Stages
Avant-Garde: Pure Poetry and the Influence of Juan Ramón Jiménez
This stage focused on the suppression of emotion and the exchange of intelligence. It emphasized the pursuit of beauty, linguistic purification, and the constructive rigor seen in the second stage of poetry.
Surrealism
Surrealism introduced new forms of expression through avant-garde movements, emphasizing rebellion, imaginative freedom, and dreamlike imagery. Notable authors from this period include Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, Federico García Lorca, and Miguel Hernández.
Spanish Literature Before 1936
Trends and Characteristics
Authors before 1936 attempted to revitalize the novel. There was a focus on the internal conflicts of the main characters, often portraying rebellious misfits who ultimately fail. The narrative style featured fragmentation to reflect a chaotic reality, often using ellipsis. Dramatization was achieved through an abundance of dialogue.
Realist and Naturalist Influences
The realist line was nuanced by Baroja, while the naturalist line was influenced by Flórez, often incorporating humor. This was combined with a spiritualist approach, reminiscent of Chuck Palahniuk’s erotic style.
Generation of 98: 1902
Key Novels Published in 1902
- “The Will” (Azorín)
- “Love and Pedagogy” (Unamuno)
- “Autumn Sonata” (Valle-Inclán)
- “The Way of Perfection” (Baroja)
Common Traits
The Generation of 98 shared common concerns, particularly regarding Spain and existentialism. They employed a subjective approach in their realist novels. Their writing was characterized by careful language, admiration for Spanish medieval literature, a sober style, and the use of the novel as a vehicle for ideas.
Stylistic Tendencies
- Modernist prose (Valle-Inclán)
- Impressionism (Azorín)
- Naturalism (Baroja)
- Austerity (Unamuno)
Commercial Theater
Bourgeois Comedy
This genre featured middle-class characters and settings, with themes centered on love conflicts and fame. Jacinto Benavente’s “Vested Interests” is a notable example.
Verse Theater
This included modern aesthetic interpretations of historical classics. The Machado brothers were prominent authors in this genre.
Comic Theater
Intended as escapist entertainment, this genre inherited elements from appetizers and sketches. Carlos Arniches was known for his portrayal of Madrid’s “casticismo” and grotesque dramas that offered social criticism, such as “The Saint of Trevélez” and “Chiefs.” Pedro Muñoz Seca contributed with works like “The Revenge of Don Witch.”
Ramón del Valle-Inclán: Aesthetic Evolution
Valle-Inclán’s work can be divided into three stages:
Modernism
Examples include “Female” and “Flower of Holiness.”
Transition
Marked by works like “Comedy Barbara.”
“Esperpento” Stage
Characterized by “Divine Words,” “Bohemian Lights,” and “The Deceased’s Glasses.” He also wrote a trilogy about Isabel II, Alfonso XII, and Alfonso XIII.
Avant-Garde Movements: Trends and Characteristics
Concept
The term “avant-garde” originates from French and signifies a forward-looking approach. These movements arose around the time of the First World War, flourishing in the 1920s. They encompassed both literary and fine arts.
Character
Avant-garde movements were characterized by a break from traditional methods, rejecting sentimentality and focusing on inconsequential play. In literature, they often yielded poor results in poetry but opened new avenues for artistic expression.
Principal Avant-Garde Movements
Futurism
Originating in Italy, Futurism exalted warfare and advocated for the destruction of syntax.
Cubism
Cubism emphasized the autonomy of art, often using three-dimensional geometric decomposition of objects. In poetry, it manifested in Apollinaire’s calligrams and collages.
Dadaism
Tristan Tzara was a key figure in France, contributing to the development of Dadaism.
Surrealism
Surrealism promoted absolute creative freedom. Notable figures include Vicente Huidobro, Juan Larrea, and Gerardo Diego. It emphasized the autonomy of art, dissociating it from everyday reality and often lacking punctuation.
Expressionism
Originating in Germany, Expressionism presented a tormented vision of an absurd world, often incorporating medieval elements.
Baroque and Surrealism
André Breton’s 1924 Surrealist Manifesto was highly influential. It advocated for the release of the individual, drawing on Marxist theory, and promoted automatic writing without conscious thought, as well as collage techniques.