Spanish Literature: Novecentismo, Generation of ’98, and Modernism
Novecentismo
This movement is characteristic of the second decade of the 20th century. The decline of Modernism in Spain was evident by this time, and new literary magazines such as ‘Prometheus’ (1908) proposed a different approach. The most important literature of the date (1914) was the start of a World War and the emergence of the “League of Political Education,” which included Manuel Azaña, Ortega y Gasset, and several others. Novecentists are also called the “Generation of ’14.”
Features:
- Rationalism:
Antonio Machado’s Poetry and Art Nouveau in Literature
Poetry of Antonio Machado
Solitudes, Galleries, and Other Poems
This work shows the influence of Verlaine: gloomy gardens and melancholy autumn sunsets.
The topics of Solitudes are the passage of time, lost youth, and dreams. In general, reactions are expressed with lyrical nature and the problem of death. Everything is closely related to the tempus fugit.
Solitudes is characteristic of the way of dialogue with nature (the personification of the dawn of the seasons) and the lyrical.
Machado’s symbols
Catalan Renaissance: Language and Literature Revival
The Catalan Renaissance
Introduction
During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, Catalan literature experienced a decline in publications due to various factors, such as:
- The splendor of Spanish literature.
- The weakening of the official status of Catalan.
- Increased popular Catalan literature.
Different historical events also played a role. In 1714, Philip V, King of Spain, introduced the Nueva Planta decree, through which the Catalan language and institutions lost their official status and were subsequently
Read MoreQuim Monzó and Postwar Catalan Poetry: A Deep Dive
Quim Monzó: A Reflection of Contemporary Society
Quim Monzó (Barcelona, 1952) is one of the most important contemporary Catalan fiction authors. His stories reflect contemporary society, focusing on emotional conflicts. The main features that characterize his narrative world and the literary resources he uses are:
- An abstract urban atmosphere with its exasperated life: loneliness, despair, boredom.
- Schematic and anonymous personalities characterized by obsessions that disable them from leading a
Understanding Language Variation: Standard English and Pidgins
Statements About Standard English
Consider the following statements about Standard English and try to decide whether you agree or disagree with them, providing a reason in each case for your decision.
Standard English is not a language.
Agree. It is considered to be an “idealized variety” and, as a variety of English, it would be treated more as a dialect than as a separate language.
Standard English is an accent.
Disagree. Partly because Standard English is tied to a written variety more than a
Modernism and Generation of ’98: Late 19th Century Spain
The Crisis of the Late 19th Century in Spain
In late 19th century Spain, two movements emerged in opposition to Realism: Modernism and the Generation of ’98.
Historical and Cultural Context
Two key historical events shaped this period:
- The Colonial Wars: The loss of Cuba and Puerto Rico in 1898, known as the “Disaster of ’98,” triggered an economic crisis.
- The Restoration Crisis: Alfonso XIII ascended to the throne in 1902 at the age of 16. Political instability marked this era, with Liberals and Conservatives