Antonio Machado: Life and Works of a Spanish Poet
Antonio Machado: A Spanish Literary Icon
Antonio Machado Ruiz (Seville, 26 July 1875 – Collioure, France, 22 February 1939) was a Spanish poet, a late member of the Generation of ’98. His early work often enrolled in the literary movement called Modernism. He was one of the most representative of the so-called Generation of ’98.
Early Works: Solitudes and Personal Voice
His poetry began with Solitudes (1903), which was written between 1899 and 1902. In this short amount, many personal traits that characterize
Read MoreSpanish Literature: 15th and 16th Century Evolution
Origins Narrative
First written in the reign of Fernando II, stories such as Kalila and Sendebar Edimna.
Alfonso X
Encouraged the use of Castilian as a union between cultures.
Topics: Law, science, games, entertainment, and heritage.
Style: Pay attention to syntax (create word derivatives) and lexicon (need conjunctions).
15th Century
The Autumn of the Middle Ages, or Pre-Renaissance, begins a shift in thinking.
Historical Account
- Nobility feeds rebellions.
- Marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of
The Poem of the Cid: Summary and Historical Context
The Poem of the Cid: A Medieval Epic
Historical Context
Much has been written about the date and composition of the Poem of the Cid. However, some facts are now clear:
- The date on the codex is 1245 of the Hispanic Era, which corresponds to the year 1207.
- The current manuscript, from the 14th century, maintains the date of the original copy: 1207. Although Menéndez Pidal proposed 1140 as a possible year of original composition, the only certain date is that of the manuscript – 1245 of the Hispanic Era,
Spanish Lyric Poetry: Postwar Period to the 1970s
Spanish Lyric Poetry: From the Postwar Period to the Late 1950s
As was happening in other literary genres, there was also a major change following the Civil War. However, there were some bridges between poetry before and after the war. Two of the poets of the Generation of ’27 who remained in Spain became role models for young writers:
- Dámaso Alonso, whose Hijos de la ira (1944) started a trend of existential poetry.
- Vicente Aleixandre, whose History of the Heart (1954) became the model for postwar
Generation of ’98: Key Authors and Literary Works
Generation of ’98
Definition and Origin
The Generation of ’98 was a Spanish literary movement named after the “Disaster of ’98.” It proposed an aesthetic renovation of literature and socio-cultural regeneration of the country. The movement meets the criteria to be considered a generation, and the origin of the generation can be traced to three manifestos (Azorín, Baroja, Machado).
Features
- A taste for both the castizo (traditional Spanish) and Europeanism: A desire to Europeanize Spain while retaining
Spanish Literature: Lazarillo, Quixote, and Baroque Authors
Lazarillo de Tormes
Lazarillo de Tormes: As directed in the preface, the work is addressed to “Your Grace”. The structure consists of a prologue and 7 treatises.
Lazarillo’s Masters:
- Blind Man: A stingy and bad master. (Greed)
- Cleric: Greedy and evil master. (Petty)
- Hidalgo: A good person but ruined, a ruined knight. (False Honor)
- Friar: A bad person.
- Pardoner: Sells bulls. (Lazarillo learns to lie because of him)
- Water Bearer: Carrying water, the best master.
- Town Crier: Becomes a guide through an archpriest.