Spanish Literary Movements: Generation of ’98 and Modernism
The Generation of ’98
The Generation of ’98 was a group of writers characterized by the central theme of Spain and a natural, simple style that prioritized content over form. Key members included the Group of Three (Azorín, Baroja, and Maeztu), Unamuno, Valle-Inclán, and Antonio Machado. The term “Group of ’98” or simply “’98” is also commonly used.
Stages of the Generation of ’98
- Youth of ’98: The Group of Three published a manifesto seeking to change the Spanish situation.
- Activism of the
Catalan Literature’s Golden Age: The 15th Century Renaissance
The Culmination of Medieval Catalan Literature (15th Century)
The fifteenth century marked the culmination of Medieval Catalan literature, producing some of the most important Catalan works.
Literary Modernization and Context
This era saw significant modernization driven by two factors:
- The introduction of culture into the home.
- The increase in readership thanks to the spread of printing.
Poetry in the 15th Century
In poetry, the traditional model of the troubadour lyric poets declined, leading to the
Read MoreLiterary Movements: Romanticism, Theory, and American Fiction
Rationalism Versus Romanticism: Core Differences
The conflict between Rationalism and Romanticism can be summarized by these opposing concepts:
- Reason / Emotion
- Reality / Fantasy
- Mundane / Exotic
- Conservative / Revolutionary
The romantic journey often leads to the countryside. Romantics associated the country with independence, moral clarity, and purity. However, the Gothic Romantic E. A. Poe saw the country as a phantasmagoric place, while Irving viewed it as idyllic and a means of escape.
Defining Romanticism
Read MoreRobert Frost’s Poetic Analysis: Themes of Nature, Reality, and Tragedy
Robert Frost’s Poetic Themes and Techniques
The Tragedy of Raymond Fitzgerald and Core Themes
Frost based his poem on an accident that had taken place six years before, which had taken the life of a sixteen-year-old boy, Raymond Fitzgerald, in nearby Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Frost focuses on this small event to suggest the larger themes of his poetry:
- The isolation of the individual
- The mystery of human existence
- The ambiguity of nature
- The need to create order and meaning out of chaos
Personification
Read MoreSpanish Literary Movements: Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism
I. Romanticism: Characteristics and Key Authors
The Romantic Lyric
The Romantic genre cultivated the lyric because it was the ideal medium to express feelings. It is characterized by a break with neoclassical forms. Topics covered include:
- Love
- Life
- Freedom
Style and Metric Development
Romantic writers use a suggestive and resonant vocabulary, treating language as music and sound. They often employ rhetorical exclamations or question marks to express intense emotions.
Regarding metric, they use verses of
Read MoreEssential Phrases for Different Writing Styles
Informal Letter or Email to a Friend
Opening Phrases
- Hi David,
- Introductory sentence
- How have you been?
- How are things?
- Thanks so much for your last email/letter.
- Sorry I haven’t been in touch for such a long time.
Main Body: Introducing the Topic
This is where you introduce the topic.
- I’ve just read an interesting article about … and I think …
- It’s great to hear that…
- You must tell them to visit…
- Why don’t we/you visit…?
- You should definitely go to…
- I’d really recommend (+ verb + -ing or subject +