Antonio Machado: Life, Works, and Influence on Spanish Poetry
Modernism
Introduction
Modernism, a literary movement born in Latin America during the late nineteenth century, spread to Spain through the influence of Rubén Darío. Two French art movements, Parnassianism (revival of Greco-Roman and mythological themes) and Symbolism (assigning subjective meanings to shapes, colors, beings, etc.), significantly shaped Modernism’s development. Although its rise was brief, ending around 1915, Modernism played a crucial role in the evolution of Spanish poetry by ushering
Read MoreJoan Manuel Serrat: Biography, Music, and Legacy
Joan Manuel Serrat
The Life and Music of a Catalan Icon
Joan Manuel Serrat i Teresa (Barcelona, December 27, 1943) is a renowned Spanish singer, composer, interpreter, poet, and musician. He is a prominent figure in modern Spanish and Catalan songwriting.
Influences and Style
Serrat’s work is influenced by poets such as Mario Benedetti, Antonio Machado, Miguel Hernández, Rafael Alberti, and León Felipe, as well as various genres, including Catalan folk music, copla, tango, bolero, and Latin American
Read MoreBaroque Literature in Spain
Melancholy, Disappointment, and Contempt of the Mundane
Original Effect. Ingenio Staff. Original Artist
Excess, Exaltation, Contrasts. Artifice, Complication.
Tendencies
Culteranismo: Artificial exaggeration of language and literary devices to create a world of absolute beauty. This movement uses many literary devices, such as images, metaphors, allegories, and mythological allusions.
The concept is based on ingenious ideas, words, and concepts. Sharpness of thought and ingenious wit are particularly
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: From Epic to Lyric Poetry
Medieval Spanish Literature
Mester de Clerecía
This genre features narrative poems with religious, moral, or heroic intentions. Written in verse with a regular meter, typically Alexandrian quatrains, key works include “The Book of Alexandre” and “Fernán González’s Poem”.
Gonzalo de Berceo (13th Century)
The first Castilian poet to abandon anonymity, proudly proclaiming his name. His works reflect the Church’s influence and the need for educational reform. His poems, like the Miracles of Our Lady,
Read MoreThe Lexicon of Castilian: Evolution and Influences
The Lexicon of Castilian
1. Lexical-Semantic Level
The basic lexical unit is the lexeme, the foundation of the word. Lexemes are monemes with full meaning. The study of the lexicon involves lexicology (inventory and classification of lexical units, dictionary development) and semantics (study of meaning). These are intertwined, hence the term “lexical-semantic level.”
2. Formation of the Lexicon of Castilian
Castilian originates from Latin, but other languages have also influenced its lexicon. Loanwords
Read MoreCatalan Literature and European Artistic Movements: A Historical Overview
Books of Chivalry
Arthurian legend, the ideal of chivalry is characterized by the presence of wondrous elements and unlikely places in distant lands. Exotic and timeless themes are described, especially in the old Spanish Amadís de Gaula. These themes degenerate in Cervantes’ Don Quixote.
Novels of Chivalry
Novels that still treat the myth of King Arthur, but do not incorporate marvelous elements. Strong protagonists are violent but within the human dimension, and the settings are localized in time.
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