Valle-Inclán, Baroja, and Generation of ’27: Spanish Literature
Ramón del Valle-Inclán
Born in Pontevedra, Spain, Ramón del Valle-Inclán’s family intended for him to study law. However, he abandoned his studies to pursue his literary vocation in Madrid. He was a man dedicated to literature, and his extravagant figure is notable. His thought was an image of opposition to the politics and society of his time. He opted for two routes: escape and criticism. The first was an escape or evasion to an archaic and traditional society, represented by the Carlist current,
Read MoreSpanish Golden Age Comedy: Lope de Vega and Don Juan
17th Century Spanish Comedy
Theatrical representation in 17th-century Spain had a fixed place of performance: the *corrales de comedias*. Initially, the stage was minimal, but over time, it became more sophisticated. Plays were divided into three acts.
Structure of a Play
The performance began with the author appearing and a celebration to engage the audience. This led to the first act. After the first act, a *loa* (a short, burlesque play) entertained the audience. Following the *loa*, the second
Read MoreCastilian Language: History and Dialects
The Castilian Language
Castilian is a Romance language derived from Vulgar Latin, enriched by other languages and dialects. It originated in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. When Castile was established as an independent kingdom, the language quickly spread to other areas, influencing neighboring linguistic regions. With the Reconquista, it spread throughout the rest of the peninsula. We have no evidence of the first written Romance language until the 11th century. It was with Alfonso X that Castilian
Read MoreJorge Manrique and La Celestina: Spanish Literature
Jorge Manrique: Life and Work
Jorge Manrique was born in Paredes de Nava, Palencia (1440), the son of the Lord of those lands and military leader Don Rodrigo, defender of the rights to the throne of Isabella the Catholic, compared to La Beltraneja. Upon Don Rodrigo’s death, Jorge Manrique, his son, wrote wonderful funeral verses that immortalized them both. The poet died in a military action defending Queen Isabella in 1479.
He wrote about 50 poems inspired by the courtly fashion of the time. He
Read MoreGeneration of ’27: Authors, Characteristics, and Stages
Generation of ’27
Under this name are grouped a set of escritores (writers) who joined the Spanish literary tradition (songbooks and poets of the Golden Age), leading new trends coming from Europe and adapted to Spain.
The reference date of this generation was 1927 when the Ateneo de Sevilla commemorated the three-hundredth anniversary of the death of Góngora. On this occasion, they met for the first time, and this meeting had a double meaning: they were modeled on the Baroque poet and made a manifesto
Read MoreMedieval and Pre-Renaissance Literature in Spain
Medieval Literature (11th-14th Centuries)
Poetry was popular, encompassing both anonymous, collective, and traditional forms (undergoing a process of reworking) and more cultured forms (with known individual authors and written texts).
Traditional Folk Lyric
This includes:
- Jarchas (in Mozarabic)
- Cantigas de amigo (Galician-Portuguese)
- Villancicos (Castilian)
Their themes were primarily love, dawn songs (meetings of lovers), *May* songs (celebrating spring), sailing songs, and work or travel songs (often
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