Generation of ’98: Spanish Literature and Existentialism
Generation of ’98: A Literary and Historical Overview
The Generation of ’98 and Modernism emerged in Spain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sharing similar literary, historical, and social contexts. However, distinct differences set them apart.
Themes
The Disaster of 1898
The Spanish-American War of 1898 resulted in the loss of Spain’s colonial empire and international prestige. Writers of the Generation of ’98, also known as the G98, responded by idealizing Castilian landscapes, history,
Read MoreTraditional Spanish Literature
Traditional Literature
Oral Literature
Traditional literature in Romance languages was often transmitted orally. Verse, particularly when accompanied by music, was preferred due to its memorability. Poetry was initially oral and anonymous, with minstrels serving as essential transmitters. This poetry endures through tradition and because it was eventually transcribed.
Lyrical Manifestations
Jarchas
Jarchas are a manifestation of lyric poetry in Muslim Spain. These are stanzas of 5 or 6 lines that appear
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: Genres and Influences
Medieval Spanish Literature
Connotations
Connotations are figurative or symbolic and political meanings that communicate sensations and feelings. They are generally used in everyday language, colloquialisms, and literary texts.
Middle Ages (476-1473)
This period began with the fall of the Roman Empire.
Society
- Oratores (priests): Lived in monasteries and copied texts.
- Bellatores (nobility): Lords who owned land and fought for religion and territory.
- Laboratores (workers): The working class.
In the 12th and
Read More20th-Century Spanish Theater: A Transformation
Early Influences and Changes
Theater holds a unique position as a literary genre, with its sender-receiver relationship witnessed in a shared space. It’s also a business influenced by diverse interests. In Spain, bourgeois tastes often clashed with calls for social and ideological relevance. Entrepreneurs sought profitable entertainment, while playwrights sometimes resisted these pressures.
In the late 19th century, there were attempts to move away from the melodramatic theater popular in courts.
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Modernism to Avant-Garde
Spanish Literature: From Modernism to the Avant-Garde
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernism arose as a response to the need for renewal, distancing itself from Realist literature. Two key movements emerged: Modernism and the Generation of ’98. These movements, while distinct, shared common ground in expressing deep concerns about Spain’s future and exploring themes of love, time, and death.
Spanish Society in 1898: The loss of Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico in 1898, coupled with military
Read MoreModernism in Spanish Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Modernism
In the last third of the nineteenth century, art movements known as Modernism emerged throughout the Western world. These movements developed in architecture, literature, and painting, characterized by innovation and a strong aesthetic focus. In Spain, the main representative of Modernism is the architect Antoni Gaudí. Modernism also flourished in Latin America, originating in the Caribbean and spreading throughout the Americas before reaching Spain. Rubén Darío is widely recognized
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