Spanish Poetry: Modernism, Generation of ’98, and Avant-Garde Movements
Spanish Poetry in the 20th Century
In the late nineteenth century, two significant movements emerged in Spanish poetry: Modernism and the Generation of ’98.
Modernism and its Pioneers
With Rubén Darío, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Antonio Machado, and Valle-Inclán, poetic endeavors began in the modernist style. However, each poet would later follow distinct paths.
Antonio Machado (1875-1939)
Machado, who defined poetry as “essential word in time,” initially explored sentimental romanticism in his work, Soledades.
Read MoreMester de Juglaría, Clerecía, Cantar de Mio Cid: Literary Analysis
Mester de Juglaría: Minstrel Poetry
Mester de Juglaría, or minstrel poetry, refers to the school’s literary narratives in verse. Originating in the 12th century, this school is represented by minstrels, or juglares, who composed and performed their own works. The juglar entertained audiences with jokes, juggling, songs, and other performances. The minstrel also sang traditional songs with lyrics.
Mester de Clerecía: Clergy Literature
Mester de Clerecía encompasses works related to stories of saints
Read MoreSpanish Theater: Post-War Trends, Playwrights, and Social Realism
Item 9. Theater from 1939 to Today
Introduction: To understand the two playwrights, it’s important to note that the first third of the 20th century saw the deaths of Valle-Inclan and Lorca, and other established figures fled into exile. The Spanish theater scene slowly recovered, closely watched by censors who always dealt with particular zeal due to theater’s unique ability to communicate.
Trends in Post-War Dramatic Theater
In the 1940s, the “national” theater was in the service of the dictatorship.
Read MoreSpanish Language Origins and Development: A Concise History
Origin and Development of the Spanish Language
Before the arrival of the Romans, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by various peoples, each with their own languages, now referred to as pre-Roman languages. Basque is the only pre-Roman language that survives today. In 218 BC, the Romans landed on the peninsula and imposed Vulgar Latin, initiating Romanization. In 409, Germanic peoples invaded the peninsula, incorporating their languages, some words of which are still in use today. In 711, the Arabs
Read MoreEpic Poetry: Virgil, Lucan, and the Roman Tradition
Epic Poetry and the Roman Tradition
Epic poetry recounts the deeds of heroes or legendary historical events. In America, it often reflects a fascination with significant events in national history, blending legend with military origins and current affairs. This interest stems from three sources: Greek tradition, national history, and Alexandrian poetry, with its sophisticated stylistic aspects and mythological motifs.
Virgil’s predecessors included Livius Andronicus, who translated Homer’s Odyssey
Read MoreUnderstanding Magical Realism: Definition and Characteristics
Magical Realism: Definition and Characteristics
Magical realism is a meta-linguistic and literary genre of the mid-twentieth century. The term was first used by an art critic, the German Franz Roh, to describe painting which demonstrated an altered reality, but was later used by certain Latin American writers. The novel Doña Bárbara by Rómulo Gallegos is considered the initiator of this literary trend.
Magical realism is defined as the stylistic concern and interest in showing the unreal or strange
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