Spanish Post-War Literature: Eras and Movements

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 in Latin

Existential Novel in Post-War Spain (1940s)

The existential novel embraced the new Spanish reality, aiming to break from the aesthetic and propagandistic narrative novel. Notable works include Camilo José Cela’s La familia de Pascual Duarte and Carmen Laforet’s Nada. Cela’s novel introduced tremendismo, a style characterized by stark language, violence, crime, and the brutality of human beings. Nada, on the other hand, depicted the consequences of the Civil War through everyday characters suffering the ravages of hunger and necessity.

Social Novel of the 1950s

In the 1950s, the first protests emerged, denouncing the thematic focus on Spanish reality, particularly the working class, who lived in conditions hostile to the bourgeois class. The style prioritized content, abandoning extensive vocabulary in favor of simple techniques like linear narrative and dialogue to reinforce the message, often emphasizing more unpleasant aspects. Key works include Camilo José Cela’s La colmena and Carmen Martín Gaite’s Entre visillos.

Novelistic Renewal in the 1960s

The 1960s saw a search for new techniques to revitalize the genre, which had become stagnant with the social novel. This period was influenced by Latin American writers, leading to formally complex novels. There was a greater preoccupation with the processing of themes and the shape and style of the narrative.

Existential Poetry (1940s)

This period of isolation in the 1940s saw poetry heavily influenced by the war and its aftermath. The tone took two main directions:

  • Rooted Poetry: Poets abstracted themselves from reality, seeking serenity in love, God, family, and country. They attempted to return to classical poetry (e.g., Garcilaso) and traditional metrics.
  • Uprooted Poetry: Poets confronted the harsh human reality of poverty, hunger, and loneliness. Content was prioritized over form, leading to the emergence of free verse. A simple lexicon and powerful metaphors predominated, conveying emotion with intensity. A prime example is Dámaso Alonso’s Hijos de la ira.

Social Poetry (1950s)

The 1950s marked a rupture of the blockade, with poets expressing their discontent with the political situation. They believed poetry should serve society and denounce injustices. The content was considered paramount.

Experimental Poetry (1960s)

In the 1960s, the poem ceased to be merely an instrument of communication and became a way of knowing. Poets sought a new approach to themes and style, with attention focusing on language and the purification of forms, sometimes even a return to classical metrics. They employed a precise style with modest avant-garde techniques, especially surrealism, evident in images and metaphors. Topics shifted towards intimacy, personal experience, subjectivity, childhood memory, and reflections on life and death. Notable poets include Jaime Gil de Biedma and José Ángel Valente.

Post-War Spain: Isolation and Cultural Impact

Post-war Spain experienced political and economic isolation, leading to a severe impoverishment of culture.

Historical and Social Context (1939-1975)

  1. 1st Period: Isolation (1939-1950): Spain’s support for Germany in World War II condemned it to European and international isolation. The country was autarkic, leading to widespread poverty.
  2. 2nd Period: Breaking the Blockade (1951-1959): An alliance with the U.S. during the Cold War favored an opening.
  3. 3rd Period: Opening (1960-1975): Characterized by foreign investments, a booming tourism industry, and urban immigration.

Characteristics of Post-War Literature

  • Art was relegated to a secondary role.
  • Lack of freedom and pervasive censorship.
  • Pessimistic, existential, and intimate tone, reflecting widespread misery.
  • Trends were divided into two main categories: an intimate tone and a social focus on content.

Adverbial Clauses

Causal Adverbial Clauses:
that, since, as
Final Adverbial Clauses:
for, to which
Concessive Adverbial Clauses:
though, even if, well
Conditional Adverbial Clauses:
whether, how, when, unless
Consecutive Adverbial Clauses:
while
Comparative Adverbial Clauses:
more than, less than, as much as