Literary Movements and Styles: From Neoclassicism to Avant-Garde
Neoclassicism
- Emphasis on simplicity and naturalness, eschewing fantasy.
- Focus on moral and social aspects of humanity.
- Adherence to rigorous rules, mimicking classic literature.
- Limited creativity for refined expression.
- Exaltation of simple pleasures.
- Predominance of reason over emotion.
- Knowledge acquisition through methodical work.
Neoclassicism emerged with the death of Louis XIV in 1715 and concluded with the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, coinciding with the Enlightenment period.
Realism
The
Read MoreAnalysis of Three Poems by Vicent Andrés Estellés
Night: A Poem of Grief and Devotion
This poem, from the book “Night” (1956), was written when Estellés was 32 years old. Dedicated to St. Vincent Ferrer, it expresses the profound sadness of losing a daughter and the exhaustion of caring for an ill wife. The poet seeks solace and protection from the saint, highlighting the misery of life and the longing for relief.
The poem’s tone is somber and melancholic, with vivid imagery like “a moon like bitter gall” conveying the poet’s despair. The allusion
Read MoreSpanish Renaissance Literature: Poetry, Prose, and Novels
Spanish Renaissance Literature
Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536)
Garcilaso de la Vega, the prototype of the Renaissance gentleman, soldier, and poet, embodied the ideals of arms and letters. His poetic career, which completes the process of assimilation of Renaissance forms and Italian trends initiated by other authors, can be divided into three creative periods:
- Influence of the poetry of song: This period alternates octosyllabic compositions. His verses still lack Petrarchan elements, there are many
20th Century Spanish Literature: From Modernism to Post-War Poetry
20th Century Spanish Literature
Poetry of the Generation of ’98
This movement’s overlap with Modernism is notable, as both emerged around the same time. The Generation of ’98 (G.98) was driven by progressive ideology and concern for Spain’s socio-political crises. Two main trends within the G.98 are the French Symbolist legacy (seen in Machado) and the German ideological influence (seen in Unamuno). However, the G.98 also retains elements like impressionistic descriptions and the idealization of
Read MoreLatin American Literature: Magical Realism and the Works of Juan Rulfo
The Latin American Novel and Short Story (Mid-20th Century to Present)
Juan Rulfo and the New Narrative
Twentieth-century Latin American narrative follows two major guidelines relating to the authors’ worldview: realism and innovation, which reached its peak with the works of the new narrative.
The break with traditional realism involved a challenge to the perceived real world and the concept of probability. The work of Jorge Luis Borges and the influence of surrealism were fundamental in this process
Read More20th Century Spanish Literature: Rulfo, Sender, Arrabal
Rulfo
(1917-1986) was a writer, screenwriter and Mexican photographer, belonging to the generation of ’52. This is one of the most prestigious writers of the twentieth century, despite being very prolific. He is considered one of the most prominent writers in the Spanish language in this period.
Juan Rulfo was one of the great Latin American writers of the twentieth century, which belonged to the literary movement called “magical realism” and his works show a combination of reality and fantasy,