Modernism in Spanish Literature: Machado and Jiménez
Modernism: A Literary Movement
Modernism, a literary movement of the early twentieth century, coexists with the Generation of ’98. The *noventayochistas* (members of the Generation of ’98) and Modernists have opposing features, despite sharing the Modernist ideology. Aestheticism (art for art’s sake) is central to the Modernist writer; literature should not have practical utility, and art should be amoral. Their motto is “Art for Art’s Sake,” and they defend the independence of literature from politics
Read MoreGeneration of ’27: Poets, Traits, and Evolution
Generation of ’27: A Defining Poetic Group
The Generation of ’27 refers to an influential group of Spanish poets who rose to prominence in the 1920s. This group significantly impacted Spanish literature, blending traditional forms with avant-garde techniques.
Key Members of the Generation of ’27
The core members of this literary movement include:
- Pedro Salinas
- Vicente Aleixandre
- Federico García Lorca
- Rafael Alberti
- Jorge Guillén
- Gerardo Diego
- Dámaso Alonso
- Luis Cernuda
- Emilio Prados
- Manuel Altolaguirre
Unifying
Read MoreSpanish Poetry: Themes, Styles, and Key Poets
Poetry of Knowledge
Poets seek a shift from the collective to the personal, comprehending the world individually. They aim to raise awareness and communicate through their work.
Topics:
- Time: Lost paradise of childhood and adolescence, sadness.
- Love: Erotica, individual experiences, friends.
- Creating Poetry: Metapoetry (reflection on poetry).
General Characteristics:
Colloquial language, free verse, humor and irony (detached from reality), meditative or reflective character (tendency to nominalization)
Read MoreSpanish Civil War Literature: A Historical Overview
Spanish Civil War Literature (1936-39)
The Spanish Civil War (1936-39) saw a dominance of ideological propaganda, generally lacking in literary quality. Cultural transmission was hampered by death and exile. The evolution of Spanish literature has been linked to subsequent social and political transformations in the country.
Main Stages
- Postwar Literature:
- Exaltation of dominant ideas: Literature often reflected the dominant ideas of the time.
- Works reflecting social issues: Works reflect the heartbreak
Lazarillo de Tormes and La Vida Es Sueño: Themes and Analysis
Lazarillo de Tormes: A Commentary
LAZARILLO_OPINION: This work by an unknown teacher has incalculable value. It shows the almost absolute rawness of life for people of low social standing at the time. It also judges the acts and habits of individuals with more power, leaving cruel evidence of their ‘living style.’ Lázaro, the protagonist, is a man battered by life and circumstances, resigned to his fate. He suffers hunger, abandonment, and humiliation, yet maintains a sense of serenity. At the
Read MoreLuis de Góngora: Life, Work, and Legacy
Luis de Góngora
Life
Born into a noble family in Córdoba, Luis de Góngora’s taste for luxury and gambling clashed with his religious vocation. In 1617, he became a priest and served as chaplain to the king.
Work
Góngora was a respected and self-assured poet, famous for inventing a brilliant, elite poetic language known as culterano. His work encompasses both learned poetry (culteranismo) and traditional forms (romances and letrillas).
Learned Poetry
From his early sonnets, Góngora displayed a penchant
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