Mercè Rodoreda: Life, Work, and the Broken Mirror
Mercè Rodoreda: Life and Work
Born in 1908 in Barcelona, Sant Gervasi, Mercè Rodoreda was an only child, greatly influenced by her grandfather, who encouraged her to read books in Catalan. She only attended school for three years, being mostly self-taught. Until the age of 32, she did not publish any work, stating, “I am an honest woman.” In 1934, she published A Day in the Life of a Man. (She would later reject these early works.) She began to engage in cultural activities, with her consolidation
Read MoreLiterary Devices, Verse Forms, and Genres Explained
Semantic Resources
Allegory: A succession of metaphors (e.g., “Poor barquilla mía entre peñascos rota sin velas, y a las ondas entregada sola.”)
Comparison: Relationship, by a link of a real object and an object image (e.g., “The sun shines through the palms like a pan of fire.”)
Periphrasis: A roundabout expression that avoids the direct term (e.g., “Scarce had the ruddy Apollo spread over the face of the broad spacious earth the golden strands of her beautiful hair…”)
Metonymy: Designation of
Read MoreFrancisco de Quevedo: Life, Works, and Baroque Style
Francisco de Quevedo: A Literary Giant of the Baroque Era
Francisco de Quevedo wrote abundant poetry and prose, combining cultured and popular elements with a serious and mocking tone, reflecting the typical Baroque contrast. His grimly reflective lyricism explores themes like love, death, Spanish decadence, deception, and the impermanence of life. His burlesque poetry addresses trivial, anecdotal matters. Born in Madrid, he pursued humanistic and theological studies and engaged in intense political
Read MoreMariano José de Larra, Leopoldo Alas Clarín, and Benito Pérez Galdós
Mariano José de Larra
Mariano José de Larra, born in Madrid, was the son of a physician who supported Napoleon’s French regime. In 1813, when the French left Spain, his family had to emigrate to France. When he returned to Spain, he observed the great differences between the modern French society and the backward Spanish society. This sparked his strong commitment to the Europeanization of Spain.
In 1833, under the liberal regime, he could express himself more freely, using the pseudonym Figaro.
Read MoreJob Interview & Presentation Key Phrases
Talking About Your Strengths
What can you offer this company? Why do you think we should employ you?
- I’m creative and dynamic – my track record in my current job proves that.
- As you can see from my CV, I have a strong background in…
- I’m self-motivated and good at organizing my time.
- I think I’m flexible in the way I plan my work.
Talking About Weaknesses
What do you think your negative points are? What areas do you think you could improve in? What might your current employer want you to improve?
- One
Upper Class Depiction in Restoration and 18th-Century Literature
The Upper Class in Restoration and 18th-Century Literature
This essay analyzes how the upper class is reflected in Restoration and 18th-century literature.
The upper class has always been a target or a motive for writing. Literary works mentioning this group range from poetry and fiction to drama.
Poetry and the Upper Class
Alexander Pope, a member of the Scriblerus Club, focused on the upper class in his literary production. The Scriblerus Club was known for satire and worried about the high level
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