20th 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
Read MoreSpanish Medieval Literature: Epic, Romance, and Lyric Poetry
Spanish Medieval Literature
The Cantar de mio Cid narrates the exploits of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a real person born around 1043. An incomplete 14th-century copy remains. The poem consists of 3700 verses grouped into sets called runs. These irregular verses, mostly between 14 and 16 syllables, are divided by a strong hemistich. The rhyming verse is assonant.
Structure of the Cantar de mio Cid
- Song of Exile: El Cid is banished by King Alfonso VI of Castile. He leaves his wife and daughters in a monastery
Jorge Manrique and Don Juan Manuel: Literary Analysis
Jorge Manrique: *Verses on the Death of his Father***
Jorge Manrique wrote profound love poetry, following the guidelines of the troubadour tradition of courtly love and with the resources characteristic of poets of the cancionero. His most important work, Verses on the Death of his Father, is an elegy that becomes a treatise on Christian philosophy, life, the transience of time, and the transcendence of death.
Key Elements, Topics, and Themes
- Time: Time is a constant flow that never stops. For Manrique,
Galician Literature: Exile, 20th Century Prose & Theater
Literature of Exile
After the War of 36, many Galician writers, artists, and intellectuals went into exile to escape Franco’s repression and strengthen Galicianism.
In poetry, the theme was addressed through the complaint and relief of social drama, Galician patriotism, and reflection on the state of exile.
Authors in Exile:
- Luis Seoane: A Galeguista party member, exiled to Argentina. Notable works include Fardel exile, Fog Sant-Iago, and Ascicatrices Valume. His poetry has a realistic style with social
Parthenon and Doryphoros: Classical Greek Art
The Parthenon: A Doric Temple
The Parthenon, built in the Greek Doric order, is an octastyle temple, featuring eight columns on each facade. It’s a peripteral structure, with columns surrounding the building—17 on the longer sides. The entire structure rests on a stylobate and two stereobates. The columns lack bases and have longitudinal grooves. A slight widening of the shaft towards the center creates the illusion of inward tilting. The shafts terminate in a necking, topped by a capital composed
Read MoreRomanticism: Social History, John V. Gonzalez & Jorge Isaacs
Romanticism & Social History
Key Characteristics:
- Subjectivity: The author tells the story from their personal perspective.
- Historical Interpretation: History is interpreted through the author’s feelings.
- Literary Devices: Use of metaphors, imagery, and lyrical resources (poems, rhymes, poetry).
- Landscape as Setting: The landscape serves as a backdrop, not the main focus.
- Pompous Narrative: The story is often told in a grand, elevated style.
Biography of John V. Gonzalez
Born in Caracas, 1811. Studied
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