19th Century Spain: History, Monarchy, and Romanticism
Historical Context: 19th Century Spain
The 19th century in Spain was marked by decadence, as well as ideological confrontations and social conflicts. In Europe, liberal ideas sparked many revolutions, which sought to annul the old regime’s economy. The Industrial Revolution was underway, and the bourgeoisie was threatened by the new class, thereafter known as the proletariat.
Three important dates:
- 1808: Start of the War of Independence
- 1868: Deposition of Isabella II
- 1898: Loss of Spain’s Atlantic colonies
Spanish
Read MoreEdgar Allan Poe: Master of Gothic Horror and Detective Fiction
Poe and the Gothic Tradition
Few would challenge the long-standing opinion that Poe was a master of the Gothic horror tale. However, many might not readily be aware that he did not invent Gothic fiction. When Poe began to attract widespread attention by publishing several macabre tales in the Southern Literary Messenger in early 1835, critics sounded negative notes concerning his “Germanism,” a synonym for Gothicism. They deplored his wasting talents on what they deemed an outmoded type of fiction.
Read MoreAma Ata Aidoo’s ‘The Message’: Themes and Literary Analysis
Ama Ata Aidoo’s “The Message”: An Introduction
This extract is from The Message, a one-act poetic drama by the acclaimed African writer Ama Ata Aidoo, published in 1967. The play reflects the reaction of Africans in South Africa to the introduction of modern technology and medical practices.
Context and Themes
The story centers on a woman undergoing a Cesarean operation in a city hospital. It follows her mother-in-law’s journey to visit her, highlighting the significant societal reactions and concerns
Read MoreEssential Concepts in Text, Media, and Communication
Understanding Textual Communication Concepts
Statements
A statement is a set of words pronounced with a particular intonation, communicating a complete idea.
Text (Linguistic Unit)
A text is the highest linguistic unit, consisting of a group of statements that share the same content and purpose.
Adequacy
Adequacy refers to how a text adjusts to the circumstances of communication.
Consistency
Consistency is the logical relationship between statements that form a text, always serving its global significance.
Read MoreEl sí de las niñas: Neoclassical Play & Spanish Realism
El sí de las niñas: A Neoclassical Masterpiece
Historical Context and Premiere
Leandro Fernández de Moratín’s El sí de las niñas, though conceived in the late eighteenth century, premiered in 1806. While Moratín claimed to have read it to friends in 1801, no definitive record exists. The play was a complete success.
Neoclassical Ideals and Thematic Harmony
It is a quintessential work of neoclassical theater, embodying its ideology by combating errors and vices while championing virtue and reason.
Read MoreAncient Theatre’s Cultural Mirror: Drama, Society, and Human Experience
Oedipus the King: Democracy and Accountability
Summary: Sophocles’ Oedipus the King
Oedipus, King of Thebes, seeks the cause of a plague and learns he killed King Laius—his father—and married his mother. The play explores truth, fate versus free will, and public accountability. The Chorus voices the people. Oedipus’s downfall is public, demonstrating democratic ideals.
Thesis: Greek Theatre and Athenian Democracy
Greek theatre reflected Athenian democracy by making leaders accountable (as seen
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