Narrative Renaissance in Spanish Literature: From Chivalric Romances to Don Quixote
Narrative Renaissance
A Marvelous World
The Narrative Renaissance attempts to reconcile the marvelous and the believable to achieve its main function: to delight readers while imparting lessons.
Renaissance Models
a) Byzantine Novels
This noble subgenre attracted great Renaissance authors. Its stories relate adventures placed in exotic locales. Unlike chivalric novels, these settings were presented as more believable. The typical story structure revolves around the protagonist’s journey, passing through
Read More20th Century Spanish Theater: From Commercial Plays to Avant-Garde
BACK TO THE THEATER
Commercial Theater
Jacinto Benavente: A popular playwright among the bourgeoisie, Benavente’s theater offered a humorous yet insightful reflection of this class’s concerns and prejudices. His plays, characterized by natural and fluid dialogue, often prioritized witty commentary over intricate plots. Key moments frequently occurred offstage, emphasizing the power of suggestion. Notable works include Vested Interests, exploring the influence of wealth, and The Unloved, highlighting
Read More19th Century Spanish Literature: Romanticism & Realism
Society and Culture
Spanish society in the 19th century was deeply marked by the legacy of the French Revolution (1789) and the Industrial Revolution. These two events shaped both the social and political landscape. The first half of the century, dominated by Romanticism, saw clashes between absolutism and liberalism, with the bourgeoisie gaining economic and political power, particularly during the expansionist era of Napoleon. The second half, characterized by Realism and Naturalism, witnessed
Read MoreThe Spanish Novel in the First Half of the 20th Century: Baroja and Unamuno
Item 5. Spanish Novel of the First Half of the 20th Century: Baroja and Unamuno
In Spain, the twentieth century is divided into two unequal parts by the Civil War. For members of the Generation of ’98, narrative prose becomes an ideal instrument for the task of regeneration of the country, which was among its main objectives. On the other hand, attention is shifting from “what” to “how.” Highlighted in this generation:
Azorín
Azorín, as a great reformer of descriptive prose, wrote The Will, where
Read MoreModernism in Spanish Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Modernism in Spain
Modernism arrived in Spain with Rubén Darío. The renowned Nicaraguan poet first visited Spain in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas. During his visit, Darío befriended prominent Spanish writers and influenced a younger generation of poets.
Manuel Machado
, brother of Antonio Machado and was one of the main representatives of Spanish modernism. Developed an original poetic in Modernism, for its variety of shades, ranging
Read MoreA Literary Journey Through Post-Spanish Civil War Spain
Poetry Post-Spanish Civil War
Miguel Hernandez
His work combines the popular with the cult. The most characteristic trait of his poetry is its metaphorical richness and cálido tone. His passionate life and career are a clear example of the evolution of poetry over time: from the dehumanization of its first moments to compromiso. He is a poet of transition, an epigone of ’27 for some authors and belonging to the generation of ’36 for others.
Works
- Expert in Moons
- Lightning Does Not Stop
- Songbook and Ballads