20th-Century Spanish Literature: Post-Civil War to 1970s
Poetry
1960s & 1970s: The Poetry of Experience
During the 1960s, a group of young poets (who were children during the war) forged a new path, diverging from social poetry and its inherent anger. These poets, skeptical of literature’s power to change the world, focused on personal experiences: childhood memories of the civil war, love, work, and other mundane aspects of daily life. Their language, while everyday, remained accessible.
Representative Authors:
- Ángel González
- Jaime Gil de Biedma
- Francisco
20th Century Literature: Main Authors and Movements
20th Century Literature
Major Authors and Movements
English-Language Literature
William Faulkner
Characterized by somber tones that paint a chaotic and decaying world, Faulkner is renowned for his bold technical innovations, profound analysis of the human soul, and brilliant style. The Sound and the Fury depicts the decline of a family burdened by mental disability, slavery, intolerance, and primal instincts. This setting serves as the backdrop for other novels like As I Lay Dying.
John Dos Passos
Dos
Read MoreSymbolism and Modernism in Poetry
Origins and Characteristics
Poetic modernism originated in mid-19th century France with Parnassianism and Symbolism. Parnassian poets advocated for objective poetry, detached from feelings and ideologies, often evoking ancient cultures and exotic settings. By the 1870s, a shift occurred towards a new language based on suggestion. In 1886, the term “Symbolism” was introduced, representing an attempt to replace reality in poetry with the idea, translating a subjective view of reality through sensitivity.
Read MoreSpanish Golden Age Comedy: A Fusion of Dramatic Elements
Comedy Training in the Spanish Golden Age
The Birth of a National Comedy
In the vibrant theater of the Spanish Golden Age, a unique form of comedy emerged. This genre, encompassing both comedic and dramatic plays performed in corrales (open-air theaters), wasn’t merely a form of entertainment; it was a reflection of the nation’s identity.
The Tragicomedy: A Lope de Vega Innovation
The tragicomedy, a blend of tragic and comic elements, was solidified by Lope de Vega in the late sixteenth century. Lope
Read MorePoetry of the Generation of ’27: A Synthesis of Tradition and Vanguard
The Generation of ’27: Poetry and Context
The “Generation of ’27” refers to a group of Spanish poets who began writing in the 1920s and shared common characteristics. The name originates from their participation in a 1927 homage to Luis de Góngora. This group is considered a pivotal force in Spanish literary history, often referred to as the Silver Age of Spanish literature.
Historical Context
Their work emerged during a turbulent period in Spanish history, marked by the dictatorship of Primo de
Read MoreBenito Pérez Galdós and the Realist Novel in 19th Century Spain
Item 3. The Realist Novel: Benito Pérez Galdós
1. Introduction
1.1. Historical Context
The nineteenth century was a time of deep transformations in all aspects. The French Revolution provoked a profound crisis in society and politics. Stratified society gave way to a class society, with the bourgeoisie taking part in power. Population growth was also a major issue, as large concentrations in industrialized cities provoked clashes between the bourgeois and the proletariat. A rational crisis occurred,
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