20th-Century Spanish Novel: From Modernism to Experimentation
Novel Before 1936
The twentieth century began in Spain with a broad movement of artistic and cultural renewal, marked by two significant moments: the Generation of 1898 (Miguel de Unamuno, Azorín, Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, Pío Baroja) and the Generation of 1914. This shift particularly impacted fiction, encouraging new formulas like the psychological and lyrical novel, emphasizing subjectivity.
Writers of this period showed less interest in traditional chronological narratives, despite the
Read MoreThe Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire: A Historical Overview
The Mythological and Historical Origins of Rome
Mythological Origin
According to the legend of Romulus and Remus, Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus, son of the god Mars and a descendant of the Trojan hero Aeneas. Romulus and his twin brother Remus were thrown into the Tiber River by their uncle, the king of Alba Longa, who had usurped the throne and wanted to eliminate them. A she-wolf rescued and fed the twins until they were found by a peasant couple who raised them.
Historical Source
Merchants
Read MoreSpanish Renaissance Prose: An Overview
Spanish Early Renaissance Prose
The Didactic Prose
This genre was cultivated by Spanish humanists who imitated Latin writers like Lucian and Cicero. They focused on prose that educated and conveyed ideas rather than boasting. Common forms included letters and dialogues, sometimes mixed with narrative. The language was natural, with a measured rhythm.
Serious didactic prose reflected the intellectual concerns of the time, including:
- Support for Emperor Charles V
- Erasmian thought
- Desire for rationality
- Revision
Epic Poetry & the Mester de Clerecía in Medieval Spain
Epic Poetry
Exaltation of Local Heroes
This type of poetry, which emerged after lyric poetry, aimed to encourage warriors and strengthen national identity. Due to its technical complexity, it wasn’t common in the literature of early civilizations. Medieval European romantic epics were often spread orally through minstrels.
Epics: The Song of the Cid
The Song of the Cid is a Castilian epic poem preserved almost entirely in a 14th-century manuscript. It’s believed to be a copy of a 1207 manuscript attributed
Read MoreBlas de Otero: Life, Career, and Poetic Evolution
Blas de Otero
Life and Career
The work of Blas de Otero reflects the evolution of Spanish poetry over several decades. Initially, his poetry delves into personal, existential, religious, and collective struggles. Later, it transitions to social and political themes, and finally explores new forms of expression.
First Stage: Existential Poetry (1945-1955)
In 1950 and 1951, two pivotal works emerged: Angel fiercely human and Strengthen human consciousness. These were later combined in 1958 into a single
Read MoreSpanish Medieval Literature: An Overview
A monastery is a place inhabited by one or more monks. Originally a monastery was the cell of a hermit or anchorite. Christian monasteries are also called abbeys or priories, (governed by a prior). In the monastery had the chapter house, cemetery, library, vestibule, vestry, cloister .. The Courtesy Mester was born into the Court, in the royal audiencia, and always used the form of prose for legal and court areas, with the intention of being noble and educational policies that would thrive in the
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