Evolution of Castilian Prose: From Alfonso X to Don Juan Manuel
Evolution of Castilian Prose
Alfonso X el Sabio (1221-1284)
King Alfonso X’s supervision of literary works placed a special emphasis on language. His efforts to standardize spelling, enrich sentence syntax, and expand vocabulary paved the way for a more complex, precise, and sophisticated prose. As a creator, his Galician compositions are evident in the Cantigas de Santa Maria, a collection of poems and songs praising the Virgin Mary and recounting miracles.
14th-Century Prose Fiction: Don Juan Manuel
Castilian
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Franco Era & Transition
Literature of the Franco Era
1. Literature During the Franco Regime
At the end of the Civil War, Franco’s dictatorship ended the Silver Age and ushered in a literature expressing horror and anguish. In the late 1940s, the dire economic situation led to the creation of social literature, which focused on collective problems like poverty, hunger, and inequality. The 1960s saw new literary models emerge, including experimental novels and renewed narratives influenced by authors like Gabriel García Márquez
Read MoreModernism in Spain: A Literary Renaissance
The End of the Century Crisis
At the end of the 19th century, European consciousness faced a crisis. Scientific discoveries like Galileo’s heliocentric model, Darwin’s theory of evolution, and Freud’s psychoanalysis challenged established religious beliefs. This led to a shift towards science and existentialism, a philosophical movement grounding knowledge on individual experience.
Modernism: A Response to Crisis
Modernism emerged as a reaction to this crisis. It represented a revival and a new approach
Read More20th Century Spanish Literature and Culture: From Modernism to Post-Civil War
20th Century Spanish Literature and Culture
Early 20th Century
Characteristics of Spanish Society
The early 20th century in Spain saw the decline of the Restoration political system. Social conflicts between the rising bourgeoisie and the proletariat led to Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship (1923). A subsequent social and economic boom among the middle classes favored the proclamation of the Second Republic (1931). However, tensions between the labor movement and conservative forces ultimately precipitated
Read MoreModernism in Spanish Literature: From Darío to the Avant-Garde
Modernism in Spanish Literature
Introduction
Modernism is a literary movement that coexisted with the Generation of ’98, but its members had distinct characteristics. Unlike the ’98 writers who were inspired by national concerns, Modernists, influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez, focused on aesthetic beauty rather than transmitting political or moral ideas. Modernist poetry and prose utilized musicality as a fundamental resource.
Origins of Modernism
Modernism’s roots lie in French Symbolism (1860-1900)
Read More20th-Century Spanish Novel: Trends, Authors, and Styles
The Spanish Novel in the 20th Century
The Novel in the 40s
The first publication that breaks the triumphalist and friendly trend imposed after the Civil War to hide the physical and moral misery of the Spanish people is The Family of Pascual Duarte by Camilo José Cela. The thematic and aesthetic renovation that resulted from this novel was confirmed by the appearance of others in which, with the same pessimistic tone, detailed personal reflections about their own existence were presented. Among these
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