The Avant-Garde & The Generation of ’27: A Poetic Revolution

The Avant-Garde

Avant-garde movements represent a significant artistic breakthrough, opposing prior aesthetics and introducing new conceptions of art and literature. These “isms” rapidly emerged in Europe between the two World Wars.

European Avant-Garde Movements

  • Futurism: This movement, originating in Italy, emphasized mechanical and technical elements, glorifying modern civilization.
  • Cubism: Literary Cubism aimed to deconstruct reality, creating free compositions of concepts, phases, or images.
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20th-Century Spanish Literature: Generation of ’27 and Narrative Trends

Generation of ’27

Characteristics:

  • Birthdates around 1900
  • Key figures: Ortega y Gasset and Juan Ramón Jiménez
  • Extensive literary training and close friendships
  • Shared themes and anthologies
  • Similar aesthetic tastes, diverse literary influences
  • Interest in popular culture
  • Poetic renewal: metaphor, free verse, avant-garde influence
  • Themes: Cities (New York, Moscow), nature, love, and the passage of time

Stages:

  • Initial (until 1929): Popular and traditional poetry, influence of pure poetry
  • Pre-Civil War: Surrealist
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Spanish Literature from Medieval to Baroque Periods

Medieval Literature

Don Juan Manuel

A nobleman who combined political and military activity with literary pursuits, Don Juan Manuel is considered the first Castilian author. He cared deeply about his prose style. His manuscripts, though lost, were originally stored in the monastery of Peñafiel.

Jorge Manrique

Born in Palencia and died in battle, Jorge Manrique is a 15th-century Castilian poet renowned for blending tradition and originality. His poetry, notably the Coplas a la muerte de su padre (Couplets

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The Latin American Boom: Magical Realism and The House of the Spirits

The Boom of the 1960s in Latin American Narrative

The Latin American narrative experienced a surge in popularity from 1962 onwards, transforming from relative obscurity to international recognition. This surprising development, known as the Boom, was fueled by increased publishing activity in South America and influenced by exiled Spanish writers and intellectuals.

Key Dates and Influences

1962 and 1963 mark significant milestones in this phenomenon. The Congress of Intellectuals at the University

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Medieval Spanish Literature

Origins of Prose

Prose emerged later than lyric and epic poetry. King Fernando III adopted Castilian chancery as the official language, replacing Latin. Alfonso X, the Wise, promoted the Toledo School of Translators. Early collections of Castilian stories and fables were translated from Arabic. Don Juan Manuel created original works of great quality, compiling over 50 stories.

Alfonso X, the Wise

Alfonso X demonstrated a commitment to promoting Castilian writing across all areas of knowledge, including

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20th-Century Spanish Theater: A Renewal

Early 20th Century Theater

The early 20th century saw attempts to revitalize Spanish theater, moving beyond the realistic drama of the previous era. A recurring theme was a chronicle of bourgeois concerns and prejudices, often conveyed with gentle irony.

Classifications of Works

Conception of the Drama:

  • Interior Bourgeois Citizens: Dramas set in the homes of the upper-middle class, reflecting their lifestyles (e.g., “The Alien Nest”).
  • Cosmopolitan Interiors: Set during the winter season, featuring princes,
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