Modernism in Literature: Key Features and Authors

1. Modernism: Defining Features

Definition: Modernism, a cultural movement spanning all arts, emerged between 1880 and World War I, challenging 19th-century aesthetics and reflecting a spiritual crisis. It influenced later authors and trends, emphasizing beauty, the pursuit of ideals, and a rejection of mediocrity. In Hispanic literature, Modernism began in Latin America with José Martí and Rubén Darío, expressing decadence through skepticism, pessimism, and societal discontent.

General Characteristics

Modernist

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Ancient Rome: From City-State to Empire and Its Legacy

Introduction

The history of ancient Rome is fascinating because of the culture developed and the progress achieved by this civilization. From a small town, it became one of the greatest empires of antiquity. The Romans inherited a number of cultural characteristics. Roman law, to this day, is present in Western culture, as well as Latin, which gave rise to English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Rome’s Mythological Origins

The Romans explained the origin of their city through the myth of Romulus and

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Evolution of Spanish Narrative: From Post-War Realism to Modern Experimentation

Spanish Narrative After 1939

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) profoundly shaped subsequent cultural activity. Literature became an escape for some and a tool for denunciation for others. During the 1940s, authors such as Camilo José Cela with The Family of Pascual Duarte (1942), Carmen Laforet with Nada (1944), and Miguel Delibes with The Shadow of the Cypress Is Long (1947) initiated a literature committed to realism. Following authors replicated these narrative models, reflecting Spanish society

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Post-Civil War Novel Resurgence: Trends and Social Reflection

The novel was not affected in the same way that poetry (see T40) was by the Civil War. The pre-war narrative was not in such a favorable situation. By contrast, the novel experienced a resurgence, reflecting the dire situation the country had just experienced and exploring gender roles more appropriately.

Major trends:

  • The idea of winners: The post-Civil War novel developed from the ideological perspective of the winning side.
  • The followers of manners: Another narrative current focused on describing
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Spanish Language and Literature: A Deep Dive

Punctuation and Grammar

The Comma

The comma creates a brief pause and separates different elements within a sentence. It’s used to:

  • Separate items in a list: On his desk were books, folders, papers, and much more.
  • Offset clarifying information: Anna, who knew her well, told me not to worry.
  • Isolate vocatives: Please, sir, let me pass.

The Comma and Semicolon

The comma is also used:

  • To mark the omission of a verb: I study in this room; my sister, in the third.
  • After an adverbial clause that precedes the
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Exploring the Evolution of Spanish Theater: Key Figures

Prelopista Theater. Until the sixteenth century, plays were only performed in Castilian. It was not until the sixteenth century, the century in which the first symptoms of the theater boom appeared, that two generations of authors emerged: In the first half, the genre was cultivated by Juan del Encina, creator of comedies and humorous themes of love, and Gil Vicente, who emphasized the introduction of traditional songs in his plays. In the second half, a new group of authors, known as prelopistas,

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