Narrative Trends in Post-Civil War Spain
Narrative Trends From 1940 to the 1970s
From the end of the Civil War until today, there have been numerous trends in Spanish narrative, making critical synthesis difficult when grouped by decades. The profound trauma of the Civil War affected all aspects of life (repression, hunger, fear, isolation, exile) and a double censorship environment, both political and ecclesiastical, conditioned novelistic production, sharply breaking with previous innovation trends.
In this scenario, two main strands can
Read MoreMedieval & Renaissance Literature: Chivalry, Humanism & The Baroque
Medieval Literature
The Novels of Chivalry
Medieval European epics, written in verse or prose, narrate legendary incidents, often based on real events. These stories feature knights errant embarking on extraordinary adventures, often with a focus on courtly love (e.g., Tristan and Isolde).
The Chivalric Novel
Evolving from the novels of chivalry, these prose narratives, influenced by Catalan chronicles, reflected real-life situations. A reciprocal influence existed between literature and reality, as
Read MoreLiterary Analysis: Genres, Elements, and Techniques
Literary Work
Literary elements are integral to communication, involving encoding and decoding messages. Key elements include:
Elements of a Literary Work
- Issuer: The source of the message isn’t singular. In a novel, for example, the issuer can be the author, the narrator, or the characters. Similarly, in theater or film, an actor’s voice conveys words written by a playwright. Understanding a literary work hinges on identifying the speaker at any given moment.
- Receiver: The person reading or hearing
Medieval Spanish Literature: An Overview
Medieval Spanish Literature
Overview
Medieval Spanish literature refers to the body of literary works produced during the Middle Ages in Spain. These works, primarily narrative poems written by individual authors and clergy, often lacked originality due to their reliance on established Latin texts. Authors frequently cited these sources to lend credibility to their words. This literature often served a pedagogical purpose, disseminating knowledge to the illiterate population. Religious and cultural
Read MoreGeneration of ’27 and Narrative Techniques
Generation of ’27
Overview
They began publishing their works around 1920. Born between 1892 and 1906, these writers formed close relationships, living together and collaborating in Madrid. Influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez and the avant-garde, they admired Góngora’s poetry for its pure language and formal perfection. To commemorate the third anniversary of his death in 1927, they organized events and were later included in Gerardo Diego’s 1932 anthology. Key members included Pedro Salinas, Jorge
Read MoreMedieval Society, Culture, and Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Medieval Society and Culture
Feudalism and Social Estates
During the Middle Ages, society revolved around feudalism. The nobility and church owned the land, while peasants worked it, pledging allegiance to their lords in exchange for sustenance and protection. Society comprised three estates: the nobility, clergy, and commoners.
The nobility held military, political, and economic power, controlling the land. Until the 13th century, they were generally unrefined and illiterate. Notable authors later
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