Spanish Post-War Literature: Authors, Trends, and Key Works
Cultural Situation in Post-War Spain
Culture was adversely affected by the lack of freedom embodied in censorship, which led to the exile of many writers. The general tone was marked by existential pessimism. There were two trends:
- Formal: Characterized by concern for evasion and formal aspects.
- Committed: Focused on social complaints.
Many authors continued publishing in exile abroad.
Post-War Literature
Literary production was low. The lack of freedom and censorship impoverished literary creations.
Read MoreLittle Women: Main Characters and Their Roles
Little Women: Main Characters
The March Family
Josephine March
Josephine is the protagonist of the novel. The second of the daughters, she is passionate about writing.
Margaret “Meg” March
Margaret, commonly known as Meg, is the eldest of the March sisters. She is a beautiful young woman with soft hair and small, white hands.
Elizabeth “Beth” March
Elizabeth, known as Beth, is the penultimate daughter of Dr. March. She is quiet, sweet, and enjoys playing the piano.
Amy March
Amy is the youngest of the sisters.
Read MoreCatalan Literature: 16th to 19th Century Developments
Catalan Literature in the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries
Causes of the Decline
- Estrangement from the court that, since the union of Spain and Aragon, was no longer in Catalonia, and the adoption of Spanish by the nobility.
- Dazzled by Castilian literature, especially from the 17th century (Golden Age).
- Consequences of a series of historical events.
- Emergence of the printing press, which favored Spanish as the most widely distributed language.
The literature of the 16th century is marked by two basic facts:
Read MoreCatalan Troubadours and the Rise of Romance Languages
The Birth of Romance Languages
From Latin to the Various Romance Languages
In the fifth century, with the demise of the Roman Empire, the implanted Roman Latin evolved differently in each territory. By the eighth century, modern Romance languages were already configured, and people no longer understood Latin. The Council of Tours recommended that ecclesiastical authorities deliver homilies in vernacular or Romance languages, as people did not understand Latin.
First Texts in Catalan
The first text written
Read More15th-Century European Poetry: From Feudalism to Renaissance
The Evolution of 15th-Century European Poetry
From Feudalism to a Trade-Based Economy
The poetry of 15th-century European society saw a significant shift as the strict feudal system, with its agriculture-based economy, transitioned to an economy based on trade. This change affected the distribution of wealth among the gentry and gave rise to a new social class: the bourgeoisie. This class began to leave rural towns and concentrate in urban cities. As a result, the troubadour literature, deeply rooted
Read More20th Century: Wars, Philosophy, and Literature
The 20th Century
Cultural Context
To understand the 20th century, we must consider 1898, when Spain was defeated by the U.S., losing Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. This marked the end of Spain’s empire and led to a deep national crisis. Philosophy and literature became fundamental in the early 20th century.
Two major historical events shaped the century: World War I (1914) and World War II (1939). Spain remained neutral in both but experienced a civil war (1936-1939), resulting in a dictatorship
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