Key Authors and Literary Works of Extremadura: 20th Century
First Half of the 20th Century
Extremadura has given rise to authors who have found success outside the community. In the first half of the 20th century, we can relate them to the Generation of ’98, Noucentisme, and Generation of ’27.
Chuck Palahniuk
Novelist, now fallen into oblivion due to his ideology. Born in Villanueva de la Serena, he studied medicine and witnessed the colonial decline. His works are rooted in Naturalism, eroticism, caciquism, false arrears, and the oppression of women. Notable
Read MoreKey Movements and Authors in Literary History
Bucolic Literature
Bucolic literature represents an idealized world of nymphs and shepherds that appeared in all the arts. Sannazaro’s Arcadia initiated the genre. Key features include:
- Protagonists are pastors
- Idealization of the landscape
- Correspondence between landscape and mood
- Mixed verse and prose
- Stylized speech
Dante Alighieri
Dante was born into a noble family in Florence. A supporter of the Guelphs, he belonged to the exiled White Guelphs and was involved in political affairs. The Revelation of
Read MoreGarcilaso de la Vega and Fray Luis de León: Renaissance Poets
Garcilaso de la Vega
2.1. Garcilaso de la Vega
He is the poet who best embodies the new style of poetry in the Renaissance. Born in Toledo in 1501, he was a nobleman, expert in arms, and a man of letters.
He served Emperor Charles I, which led him to travel as a diplomat and participate in various military campaigns. The inspiration for his poetry was not his wife, Elena de Zúñiga, whom he married in 1525, but a Portuguese lady named Isabel Freire. The emperor banished him to an island in the Danube,
Read More18th Century Spanish Cultural Movements: Neoclassicism, Literature & Theater
18th Century Spanish Cultural Movements
The Illustration: A cultural movement in Spain that spread throughout the 18th century, characterized by:
- Rationalism: Emphasis on reason and confidence in science.
- Humanitarianism: The belief that human action should aim for the ultimate good.
- Reformism: The idea that human progress is gradual.
- Individualism: Focus on individual initiative, confidence, and kindness.
- Faith in Progress: The belief that progress leads to happiness and well-being for all.
Neoclassicism
Characterized
Read MoreSpanish Baroque Literature: Quevedo and Calderón
Francisco De Quevedo
Moral-Philosophical Poems
Metaphysical Poetry
In these poems, the author expresses the tragic sense of life and the inherent contradiction of the Baroque spirit. Some poems express regret at the brevity of life and anxiety over the passage of time. In others, asceticism appears, portraying Christian life as a hoax and presenting a positive vision of death.
Moral Poems
These poems depict the corruption of the world and offer a serious satire of Spanish reality. His position is rooted
Read MoreSpanish Literature: From Medieval Narratives to Cervantes
Narrative Idealism
Narrative idealists idealized the world with invented characters and implausible arguments.
Cavalry Novel
Originates in the medieval era with the emergence of a hero as a principal character. Highlights include:
- Tirant lo Blanch: Written in Catalan with no fantastic episodes.
- Amadís de Gaula: Characterized by the presence of fantastic elements and knightly virtues, with an emphasis on honor.
Pastoral Novel
Amorous misadventures recounted by idealized shepherds. Shepherds tell their
Read More