The Post-War Spanish & Latin American Novel
The Post-War Spanish Novel (to 1950s)
Introduction
After the civil war, a period of isolation, censorship, death, and exile ensued, leading to cultural impoverishment. Spain disregards thematic renovations taking place in Europe and continues publishing novels by the already established Generation of ’98, such as Pío Baroja. Novelists in exile, though dispersed, shared common themes: the ethical issues of war, memories of a lost homeland, nostalgia, and the presence of their new residences.
Novelists
Read MoreLiterary Works Across Centuries: Genres, Authors, and Themes
1. The Song of Songs
Author: Anonymous
Genre: Lyric Poetry
Literary Characteristics: Oral Transmission, Part of the Old Testament (Poetic Books – Psalms and Lamentations), 6th Century BC, Song of Celebration, Wedding Song (Reference to Solomon), Use of Metaphors, Allegories, Synesthesia.
Themes: Love (Before Human Love, After – Man and God, God and His People)
Structure: Short, Wedding Song, No Logical Connection of Verbs.
2. Ausiàs March
15th Century
Genre: Love Poetry
Language: Catalan
Themes: Love Songs,
Read MoreNarrative in 20th Century Spain
Narrative in the First Half of the 20th Century
The first half of the twentieth century is very rich from the literary point of view. Quality is the common denominator of all genres, though, if one stands out above others, that is certainly the novel. The authors of the Generation of 98 use the genre as a key vehicle of expression, and it becomes the genre par excellence of twentieth-century literature. Subsequently, the authors belonging to the Generation of 14 or Novecentismo grow them in profusion,
Read MoreThe Avant-Garde & The Generation of ’27: A Poetic Revolution
The Avant-Garde
Avant-garde movements represent a significant artistic breakthrough, opposing prior aesthetics and introducing new conceptions of art and literature. These “isms” rapidly emerged in Europe between the two World Wars.
European Avant-Garde Movements
- Futurism: This movement, originating in Italy, emphasized mechanical and technical elements, glorifying modern civilization.
- Cubism: Literary Cubism aimed to deconstruct reality, creating free compositions of concepts, phases, or images.
20th-Century Spanish Literature: Generation of ’27 and Narrative Trends
Generation of ’27
Characteristics:
- Birthdates around 1900
- Key figures: Ortega y Gasset and Juan Ramón Jiménez
- Extensive literary training and close friendships
- Shared themes and anthologies
- Similar aesthetic tastes, diverse literary influences
- Interest in popular culture
- Poetic renewal: metaphor, free verse, avant-garde influence
- Themes: Cities (New York, Moscow), nature, love, and the passage of time
Stages:
- Initial (until 1929): Popular and traditional poetry, influence of pure poetry
- Pre-Civil War: Surrealist
Spanish Literature from Medieval to Baroque Periods
Medieval Literature
Don Juan Manuel
A nobleman who combined political and military activity with literary pursuits, Don Juan Manuel is considered the first Castilian author. He cared deeply about his prose style. His manuscripts, though lost, were originally stored in the monastery of Peñafiel.
Jorge Manrique
Born in Palencia and died in battle, Jorge Manrique is a 15th-century Castilian poet renowned for blending tradition and originality. His poetry, notably the Coplas a la muerte de su padre (Couplets
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