Spanish Modernism & Generation of ’98 Literary Movements
Modernism and the Generation of ’98 in Spanish Literature
In the early twentieth century, as realism fell into disrepute, aligning with the crisis of positivism and reason, many young writers confronted nineteenth-century literature. They shared common features with Romanticism and expressed dissatisfaction with their contemporary world.
Modernist writers, who sought refuge in aesthetics as a rejection of the world, and those like Unamuno, Baroja, and Azorín, who adopted a critical stance toward
Read MoreCatalan Literary and Artistic Heritage: Forms and Eras
Popular Literature Characteristics
- Anonymous: Authorship is often unknown.
- Traditional: Follows established guidelines and forms.
- Oral Transmission: Passed down from generation to generation.
- Unstable: Content may vary with each transmission.
- Inaccurate Dating: Precise origin is unclear, but vocabulary helps chronological placement.
- International: Themes and forms often transcend borders.
Traditional Songs: Forms and Themes
Religious songs feature simple melodies, often praising Jesus, the Virgin Mary,
Read MoreLiterary Evolution: Symbolism, American Lyricism, Avant-Garde
Baudelaire: Poetic Revolution and Symbolism
Charles Baudelaire, positioned before the advent of Symbolism, is credited with a poetic revolution that allowed poetry to transition into its modern form. Later, Arthur Rimbaud, a quintessential “damned poet,” embodied the bohemian life of Paris, a man of great talent and intelligence.
His seminal work, Flowers of Evil, introduced new elements and demonstrated a progression of poems within the book. As the work advances, various options for escaping
Read MoreOscar Wilde, Aestheticism, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
Aestheticism: Art for Art’s Sake
In the late 19th century, the traditional Victorian values of morality, respectability, and utility were challenged by the artistic and literary movement known as Aestheticism. It posited that art should not be moral or didactic, but rather seek beauty and sensory pleasure.
The famous motto, “Art for Art’s Sake”, expressed this concept, praising the sensual qualities of art and the pleasure it could evoke. This went against the Victorian belief that literature and
Read MoreCaravaggio’s Early Masterpieces: Realism and Symbolism in His Youthful Works
Caravaggio, a revolutionary figure in art history, emerged from the shadow of the Renaissance, often seen as a continuation of its spirit yet forging a distinctly new path. His early works challenged the prevailing artistic norms, introducing a raw realism and dramatic use of light that would define the Baroque era.
Caravaggio’s Revolutionary Art
Contrast with Raphael: Madonna of the Chair
Before delving into Caravaggio, it’s insightful to consider his predecessors. Raphael’s Madonna of the Chair (
Read MoreLiterary Analysis of Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Analyzing Shelley’s “Ozymandias”
P.B. Shelley’s “Ozymandias” is not a traditional sonnet; rather, it functions as a narrative sonnet employing multiple narrative voices. The poem features a frame narrative with three distinct narrators. We encounter a narrator who recounts what another person told him, and that person, in turn, relates what he read. The primary purpose of these layered narrators is to evoke an uncanny feeling, challenging the reader’s belief and aligning with characteristics of Gothic
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