Spanish Romanticism: Authors and Key Works
General Characteristics of Spanish Romanticism
Institutions established free education, Hegelian idealism, and the diffusion of the literary press. Then came Realism. The 18th century considered literature useful, but raw. The topic of “Art for Art’s Sake” emerged in the 19th century. Motifs were written not out of obligation. The likelihood is disregarded (evasion of worlds), nature is idealized, and raw individualism and habits (use of vernacularism) are present. The world of sentiments acquires importance, with abundant adjectives and synesthesia.
Poetry
Lyric: More subjective, nature and landscape reflect the soul. Love is a common theme. Meters and stanzas vary within the same poem.
Authors:
- Espronceda (1st half of the 19th century)
- Bécquer and Rosalía (2nd half of the 19th century)
Narrative
Inspired by earlier literature, it relates to historical facts and legends. Romance stanza form (eight-syllable verses) is used. The legend grows, with a bright style and expressive force.
Authors:
- Espronceda
- Zorrilla
- Rivas
Theater
Characteristics:
- Rejection of Neoclassical rules (place, time, action)
- Use of tragicomedy
- Predilection for drama (chivalry; historical-legendary)
- Inspiration in classical works
- Social concerns
- Mystery
- Romantic and rebellious heroes
- Use of both prose and verse in the same work
- Great metrical variety
- Night and sepulchral environments
- Works divided into five acts
Authors:
- Duke of Rivas
- Zorrilla
- Martínez de la Rosa, The Conspiracy of Valencia
- Hartzenbusch, Lovers of Teruel
(Victor Hugo was a reference for them.)
Bretón de Herreros wrote costumbrist plays, such as Muérete y verás.
Costumbrista Prose
(1st half of the 19th century)
- Larra (Ramón)
- Mesonero Romanos, Scenes Matritenses
- Estébanez Calderón, Escenas andaluzas
They offer a close, amiable look at society, with mild criticism and reproach, and an underlying moral message.
Historical-Legendary Novel
- Enrique Gil y Carrasco, The Lord of Bembibre
- Larra, The Youth of Henry the Mournful
Important articles by Bécquer: (politics, historicist criticism)
Espronceda
Characteristics: Excels in poetic production, great imagination, use of polarimetry, good command of rhyme, musical.
Works:
- Short Poems: With freedom, a social trend emerges, influenced by Neoclassical style (e.g., “Pirate Song”).
- Longer Poems:
- The Student of Salamanca: A narrative lyric comprising four parts. A wide range of meters. Romantic conditions are met. Félix de Montemar mocks his beloved Elvira, who dies of love. He kills her brother, Diego de Pastrana, provides burial, marries the spectrum of his love in a crypt, and dies. Non-linear chronology.
- El Diablo Mundo: A philosophical poem with a pessimistic view of man’s existence and the meaning of life. Includes “Teresa’s Song”.
Duke of Rivas
Poetry:
- The Foundling Moor: A narrative, dramatic poem with lyrical intensity.
- Historical Romances: Medieval legends and stories.
- Legends: Wide range of meters.
Theater:
- Don Álvaro, or the Force of Fate: Five acts, prose and verse, breaks the three unities, dynamic action, romantic ambiance.
Zorrilla
Poetry:
- Oriental: Exotic, resorts to the topic.
- Legends: Diverse meters, traditional themes (e.g., “Margarita the Gatekeeper”).
- Granada: About the great Moorish kingdom.
Theater:
- The Shoemaker and the King: About King Pedro I.
- Traitor, Confessor, and Martyr: Legend of the Portuguese King Sebastian.
- Don Juan Tenorio: Based on Tirso de Molina’s The Trickster of Seville. New characteristics, represents Romantic effectism in verse.
Larra
Artificial Customs: Expository texts, issues of bad education, marriage, public office, fashions, Spanish social life, and critical tone. Vuelva usted mañana.
Political Articles: Disappointment with progressive and liberal politics. Nadie pase sin hablar al portero.
Literary Criticism: About theater, including Neoclassicism and free ideas. Romantic El sí de las niñas.
Bécquer
Poetry: His friends collected his poems under the title Rhymes. Short poems, intimate tone. The 79 rhymes develop a love story:
- 1-11: Poetry in general
- 12-29: Hopeful love
- 30-51: Failure in love
- 52-79: Existentialist themes, loneliness after a time without love
Prose:
- Desde mi celda: Written in a monastery for health reasons, about art and life.
- Legends: Short stories, exotic world, themes of terror and mystery. The Green Eyes, The Kiss.
Rosalía de Castro
- Cantares gallegos: In Galician, a nostalgic vision of Galician life.
- Follas novas: In Galician, denounces social injustice in Galicia.
- En las orillas del Sar: In Castilian, aching verses, foreshadows Modernism, bitter.