Understanding the Baroque Period: Art, Literature, and Theater
The Baroque Period: An Overview
The Baroque is a cultural movement that unfolded in Spain during the 17th century, marking a significant part of the Golden Age of Spanish art. In contrast to the Renaissance, which emphasized progress, security, and an idealized, optimistic worldview, the Baroque period was characterized by doubt, anguish, and a pessimistic view of the world.
Life was often compared to a large theater, full of tricks and illusions, highlighting its fleeting nature and the inevitability
Read More17th Century Theater: Neoclassical Ideals and Social Commentary
Theater in the Seventeenth Century: Neoclassical Approach
Neoclassical theater is based on clarity, simplicity, and naturalness, aiming at the imitation of human actions. It respects the rule of the three unities, serving the purpose of decorum. The number of characters should not exceed eight or ten.
Neoclassical Tragedy
Neoclassical tragedy, written in verse and featuring nobles or kings of the past, had a didactic purpose. The basic message was that reason was to overcome passion. Notable figures
Read MoreMastering English: Structures and Connectors
CONTENTS
Second and Third Conditional // Passive // Used to // Relative Clauses // Should, Could // Possibility, Uncertainty // Because of, Due to // Present Perfect Continuous // Past Perfect // Reported Speech
Informal Letters and Emails
- Beginning: It’s been such a long time since we wrote to each other. // I’m sorry I haven’t written for such a long time, but…
- Introducing the topic: Guess what? // Do you remember what I told you in my last letter?
- Ending: I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Embracing Traditions, Book Review & Restaurant Spotlight
Embracing Traditions in Daily Life
Today, I want to talk about how I include traditions in my daily life. In our busy world, it’s easy to forget about the customs that connect us to our roots. But I believe that celebrating small traditions makes life more meaningful and helps us to feel connected with the people around us.
First, I start my day with a short prayer. It’s a small tradition that helps me feel calm and focused before I begin my daily routine. Then, after work, I joined a local festival
Read MoreUnderstanding English Consonant Sounds: Articulation
Understanding Consonant Articulation
The production of consonant sounds involves specific movements and positions of the articulators (tongue, lips, etc.) within the vocal tract. Here’s a breakdown of several consonant sounds:
/tʃ/ Voiceless, Affricate, Post-Alveolar
The air from the lungs travels through the larynx. The glottis (opening between the vocal folds) is wide open, allowing air to pass freely without vocal fold vibration.
The air then reaches the oral cavity, encountering a blockage between
Read MoreSpanish Literary Movements: Realism, Naturalism, and Avant-Garde
Realism
Realism is the cultural movement of bourgeois society in the nineteenth century, which rejected fantasy and romantic idealism. General features of realism are: observation and accurate description of reality, focus on facts, common purpose of social criticism, a concise and sober style, predilection for the novel, individual characters, omniscient narrator, didacticism, linear structure, meticulous descriptions, and approximation of colloquial language.
Naturalism
Naturalism is a literary current
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