Spanish Poetry: Generations and Movements
Characteristics of the Generation of ’27
It is known as the Generation of ’27 to a group of poets who share certain characteristics. The authors of this group maintained very close personal relationships, often centered around the Residencia de Estudiantes, a free institution of education. In 1927, they participated in an act of homage to Góngora, whom they admired for his quest for a different literary language, distinct from everyday speech. All of them began to publish around 1920. They received
Read More13th-14th Century Catalan Language & Literature
Expansion of Catalan in the 13th and 14th Centuries
The 13th and 14th centuries saw a significant expansion of the Catalan language. Early authors developed lyrical poetry, influenced by renowned Provençal troubadours. This literary tradition originated in the south of France, in territories then belonging to the Crown of Aragon. The conquest of Mallorca, Ibiza, and Valencia led to the annexation of these lands and the spread of Catalan, as they were repopulated by Catalans.
Minstrels and *Chansons
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Baroque Period Key Authors & Works
Luis de Góngora
Góngora’s new style is based on the concentration of procedures, which is a stylistic and poetic revolutionary concept. Despite being elitist and removed from the accusations of darkness, new forms spread and came to constitute a poetic stream, Culteranismo. Polyphemus and Galatea is a mythological poem composed of 63 royal octaves. Góngora, with Polyphemus, surprised his contemporaries with the poem’s difficulty and novelties. He contributed numerous mythological allusions and,
Read MoreMiguel Hernández: Bridging Tradition and Modernism in Verse
Tradition and Modernity in Miguel Hernández’s Poetry
Miguel Hernández’s (MH) poetry is deeply personal. His unique style is the result of various influences, blending the Spanish poetic tradition with modern elements.
This mix of tradition and modernity is not unique to Hernández; it characterizes the work of the Generation of ’27. Spanish poets like García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, and Gerardo Diego embraced both the tradition of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, and avant-garde
Read MorePortuguese Poetry: Franco Dictatorship (1936-1975)
Portuguese Poetry Between 1936 and 1976
After the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the Franco dictatorship (until 1975) began. This authoritarian regime was characterized by a lack of basic freedoms, such as speech or assembly, to impose a single ideology and deny the linguistic and cultural diversity of Spain. Consequently, some authors connected with the Brotherhood and the Galicianist Party, such as Castelao, had to emigrate for political reasons and continued their literary work in America. Those
Read MoreAngel Gonzalez and Spanish Poetry After the War
The post-war period following the two World Wars deeply impacted art and thought, leading to a sense of pessimism. Spain faced economic hardship, cultural assimilation, censorship, the promotion of Catholic culture, and exile for many, including writers like Alberti (or death for Lorca). Many writers left Spain, impacting its literature, though the situation improved in the 1950s. In the 1940s, early works showed discontent, but were not overtly critical. The 1950s saw a loosening of censorship.
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