The Poetry of Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Unit 8: The Poetry of Modernism
Introduction
Modernism is primarily a stylistic renovation, particularly in the language of poetry. It emerged from a synthesis of Parnassianism and Symbolism, two significant poetic currents. This creative power was introduced by Rubén Darío.
Characteristics of Modernism
Modernism is essentially characterized by the pursuit of absolute beauty as a means to escape everyday reality. The movement presents the following characteristics:
- Discomfort in society and inclination
Effective Communication: Elements, Genres, and Strategies
Effective Communication
Elements of Communication
Concise Process: Communication involves transmitting information from a point of origin to a point of reception.
Verbal Language: The primary instrument of human communication in all its forms, serving as the foundation of social interaction.
Sender-Receiver Relationship:
- Bi-directional: Sender and receiver exchange roles.
- Unidirectional: Information flows from sender to receiver, but not vice-versa.
Noise: Disturbances that hinder communication.
Redundancy:
Read MoreThe Poetry of Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Unit 8: The Poetry of Modernism
Modernism
Modernism is primarily a renovation of the language of poetry, arising from a synthesis of Parnassianism and Symbolism.
This creative power, introduced by Rubén Darío, is essentially characterized by the pursuit of absolute beauty as an escape from everyday reality. The movement presents the following characteristics:
- Discomfort in society and inclination towards solitude.
- Exploration of intimacy and distance from everyday reality.
- Anti-bourgeois, anti-realist,
Image, Symbol, and Theme in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
Image and Symbol in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
Early Poems
Images of his surroundings are prominent in his early poems, such as:
- The lemon
- The fig
- The patio
The image of the shepherd: “Squat milking / a goat and a dream”
Erotic desire in the guise of pastoral composition (“Where to find the nymph who has been warning my sex?”)
Perito en lunas
In “Perito en lunas”, images and symbols complicate the understanding of the poems, becoming authentic “lyrical riddles,” as the poet Gerardo Diego noted. Góngora
Read MoreSpanish Literature During and After Franco’s Regime
The Lyric in the Franco Era
After the Civil War, two types of poetry emerged:
- Embedded Poetry (Conservative): Writers like Leopoldo Panero and Luis Rosales aligned with the Franco regime.
- Uprooted Poetry: Expressed anxiety towards life, featuring works like Sons of Wrath (Dámaso Alonso) and Angel Fiercely Human, Roll of Consciousness (Blas de Otero). This evolved into social poetry in the 1950s.
The main precursor of social poetry was Miguel Hernández (Wind of the People, The Man Lurks). Other key
Read MoreNarrative Genres in Spanish Literature After the Civil War
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) marked a significant shift in the country’s literary landscape. The narrative genre, previously cultivated by writers of the Generation of ’98, the “Novecento,” and some avant-garde movements, was further developed by authors in the war’s aftermath. These writers explored themes such as the war itself from both sides, as well as the financial and moral state of Spain in the post-war period. Some authors fled the country and contributed to the “narrative of exile,
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