20th Century Spanish Theater: From Benavente to Lorca
Early 20th Century Spanish Theater
The first decades of the 20th century witnessed a renewal of theatrical attempts. Playwrights faced two choices: cater to the audience’s preferences (triumphant theater) or challenge them with innovative works.
Triumphant Theater
1. Realism: Jacinto Benavente, awarded the Nobel Prize in 1922, achieved success with plays like Vested Interests and The Unloved, which offered limited social critique.
2. Poetic Verse: This style blended Romanticism and Modernism, with notable
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: Epic Poems, Lyrics, and Courtly Love
Early Medieval Literature
Arabic Influences and New Poetic Forms
Early medieval Spanish literature shows the influence of Arabic poetry, particularly in the classical qasida form. New popular poetic forms emerged in Al-Andalus, such as the zejel and muwassaha, which celebrated life and love. These songs, often accompanied by musical instruments, were popular among the nobility, bringing a sense of vigor and spontaneity to the more formal classical poetry.
First Signs of Romance Literature: The Jarchas
The
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Realism (Nineteenth Century)
Realism reacted against Romantic excesses, subjectivity, imagination, exoticism, and bombastic style. It emphasized the observation of contemporary reality. The novel became the dominant genre. This century marked the heyday of the European novel with authors like Flaubert, Stendhal, and Zola (France); Tolstoy and Dostoevsky (Russia); Dickens (Great Britain); and Eça de Queiroz (Portugal).
Naturalism (1870)
In France, Naturalism emerged, leading to extremely realistic
Read More19th and 20th Century Spanish Literature: Realism to Avant-Garde
19th and 20th Century Spanish Literature
REALISM (Nineteenth Century)
Realism aimed to react against the romantic excesses and abuse of subjectivity, imagination, the evasions of ancient and exotic worlds, and its bombastic style. It appreciated the thorough and accurate observation of contemporary reality. The dominant genre was the novel. This century was the heyday of the European novel: Flaubert, Stendhal, and Zola (France), Tolstoy, Dostoevsky (Russia), Dickens (Great Britain), and Eça de Queiroz
Read MorePostwar Spanish Novel: Evolution and Trends
Postwar Spanish Novel
Historical Context
After the Spanish Civil War, the Franco dictatorship imposed repression and censorship, leading to cultural impoverishment. However, new avenues of expression slowly emerged. Internationally, the end of World War II resulted in the Cold War and significant scientific advancements.
The Postwar Novel: Renewal and Trends
The postwar novel saw a renewal of realism, a diminished focus on history, and a tendency towards centralized drama and the hero’s problems. Novels
Read MoreRealism and Modernism in 19th and 20th Century Spanish Literature
Realism (Nineteenth Century)
Realism aimed to react against the romantic excesses and abuse of subjectivity, imagination, the evasions of ancient and exotic worlds and its bombastic style. It appreciated the thorough and accurate observation of contemporary reality. The dominant genre was the novel. This century was the heyday of the European novel: Flaubert, Stendhal and Zola (France), Tolstoy, Dostoevsky (Russia), Dickens (Great Britain) and Eça de Queiroz (Portugal). In France, Naturalism emerged
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