Spanish Literature: Poetry of the 60s and Theater of the 27
The Poetry of the 1960s
Leading poets of this generation are Angel Gonzalez, Jaime Gil de Viedma, and Felix Grande. Their concept of poetry changed: its goal is no longer communicating with a wide audience. Communication is only one element of poetry, but not the principal means. Poetry is seen as a means of understanding reality and personal experience.
- The topics lean toward intimacy and the recreation of individual experience, hence the denomination of the “poetry of experience”: love, friendship,
Lazarillo and Santa Teresa: Key Aspects of Spanish Literature
Lazarillo de Tormes: A Picaresque Analysis
Author: The author of Lazarillo de Tormes is unknown, though various attributions exist. The sophisticated social criticism suggests the author preferred anonymity. The censoring of religious aspects may indicate an Erasmian clergyman.
Plot and Structure
Plot: After a preface, Lázaro narrates his life, detailing his changing masters until he chooses the best. The ending is ambiguous: the rogue achieves good fortune, but his work is questionable, and rumors
Read MoreCervantes’ Literary Legacy: Don Quixote and the Picaresque Novel
Miguel de Cervantes: Life and Literary Legacy
Cervantes’ Biography
The biography of Miguel de Cervantes is divided into two stages: the illusion of a heroic youth and the disillusionment of maturity, full of problems. Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547. In 1569, he moved to Italy, and two years later, he fought in the Battle of Lepanto against the Turks, where an arquebus shot rendered his left hand useless. Upon returning to Spain, he was captured in Algiers and remained captive
Read MoreCommon English Expressions and Spanglish Explained
Common English Expressions and Their Origins
A German businessman is on a train in London when he sneezes. An Englishman standing next to him says, “God bless you.” The German looks at him strangely. The Englishman repeats himself and adds, “You sneezed.” The German still doesn’t understand. In England, saying “God bless you” after someone sneezes is considered normal. It is a polite way of wishing someone well. But Germans say “Gesundheit” in this situation, which means “to health.” That’s why the
Read MorePrescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar: Key Differences
Prescriptive Grammar
- Describes the regularities which underlie the structure of languages and varieties.
- Does not take dialectal variation into account.
- Does not take into account the differences between styles (written/spoken).
- Does not take the natural evolution of languages into account.
- Imposes rules, sometimes borrowed from other languages.
- Interested in telling people how they should speak.
- No distinction between formal/informal situations.
- Some varieties are considered inferior.
- The varieties of language
Victorian Novelists: Dickens, Thackeray, and Trollope
The Rise of the Novel in the Victorian Era
Victorian writers often reflected the values of their society, emphasizing family, domesticity, and religion. Their literature served as a form of propaganda, showcasing economic progress while highlighting stark class differences. They drew characters and stories from everyday life, aiming to portray the realities and conditions of England.
Individualism was highly valued, with linear narratives often featuring characters who succeeded by embodying Victorian
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