Modernism and the Generation of ’98 in Spain
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernism
Modernism was an artistic movement that spread throughout the creative world. Created by Rubén Darío and José Martí, it features:
- Aesthetic literature: It seeks beauty above all else.
- Escapism: Authors often expressed feelings like boredom and laziness.
- Symbolic elements: Reliance on symbols, such as the swan.
The Generation of ’98
The Generation of ’98 was a group of authors born in the late 19th century who discussed two main topics:
- The decline of Spain.
Roman Historiography: Authors, Works, and Features
The Purpose of Roman Historiography
The purpose of the genus is historiographical: to explain historical events. It appears in 272 BC, influenced by the Greeks. The Romans look to the past, focusing on the idea of Rome; the Greeks focus on the present. Roman historians exhibit two opposing attitudes: complacency and pessimism when describing historical facts, and displeasure when analyzing the evolution (and their refusal of interests) of the events they narrate.
Key Roman Historians
The first annalists,
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Poetry, Theater, and Narrative (1950-1990)
Spanish Poetry: 1950s and Beyond
1950s: Social Poetry
In the 1950s, poetry transitioned from individual existential concerns to expressing political protest and collective anguish. The language became simpler and more direct, aiming to reach a wider audience. Key figures include:
- Blas de Otero: Pido la paz y la palabra (I Ask for Peace and the Word), Ángel fieramente humano (Angel Fiercely Human), Redoble de conciencia (Roll of Conscience)
- Gabriel Celaya: Cantos Iberos (Iberian Songs)
- José Agustín
Post-Boom Literature: Characteristics and Narrative
Key Features of Post-Boom Literature
Another feature of post-boom literature that sets it apart from the boom is its tendency towards the *intrascendente*. This difference can be seen clearly in the kinds of characters chosen as protagonists. The boom writers focused on exceptional people with excessive obsessions. In contrast, the protagonists of the post-boom are recruited from the transient populations of Latin American cities.
Post-boom literature predominantly portrays urban life, and it incorporates
Read MoreLiterary Movements: Realism to 21st Century
European Realism
French:
- Stendhal (*The Red and the Black*)
- Balzac (*The Human Comedy*)
- Flaubert (*Madame Bovary*)
English:
- Dickens (*A Christmas Carol*, *Oliver Twist*, *A Tale of Two Cities*)
Spanish Realism
Juan Valera: (*Pepita Jimenez*, *Juanita*)
Clarín:
A Zamora law professor, writer, and regular essayist, he wrote short stories, literary criticism, and novels.
- *The Ruler*: Recreates a plot in Spanish society whose values have degenerated (Vetusta). Themes include adultery, social class criticism,
El Cid, Mester de Clerecía, and Celestina: Key Spanish Literature
El Cid: A Hero’s Journey
Cid: This epic poem focuses on the final years of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador. The primary source is a fourteenth-century manuscript missing its initial sheet and two interior pages. Another copy from 1207 identifies Per Abbat as the author. The poem portrays the Cid as a model of moderation, prudence, and balance.
The Story of Honor and Shame
The narrative revolves around two central themes: honor and dishonor. Falsely accused, El Cid is banished from Alfonso VI’
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