18th-Century Spanish Literature: Trends and Institutions
18th-Century Corrientes: Dynasty Change and Enlightened Despotism
Corrientes in the eighteenth century saw a change of dynasty, leading to enlightened despotism, a philosophy summarized as “all for the people, but without the people.” This era, known as the Enlightenment, promoted the creation of public and private institutions. The first newspapers were printed. The principles were not easily accepted and often attacked traditional culture.
In literature, the penetration of new ideas was slow and
Read MoreLiterary Devices: Enhance Your Writing
Understanding Literary Devices
Alliteration
Definition: Repetition of one or more sounds in a verse or stanza. It creates euphonic effects or cacophony. Examples:
- “You take grip of rare breeds of birds…”
- “The wing of a mild fan.”
Onomatopoeia
Definition: Imitation of real sounds using phonetic language. Example: “Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo.”
Paronomasia
Definition: Phonetic similarity of words or word groups. Example: “I’ve sold, blindfolded.”
Assonance
Definition: Equality of vowel sounds from the last stressed
Read MoreRenaissance Literary Genres: Byzantine, Moorish, Pastoral
Renaissance Literary Genres
In the middle of the action scenes, chivalrous bucolic-pastoral elements appear. Although the model of Ariosto does not disappear, new innovations will emerge in the 16th century: a trend towards plot concentration, moralization of settings, and nationalization of plots and cases.
- The Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso: The theme focuses on the siege of Jerusalem in the 11th century, emphasizing Christian and moral aspects.
- Os Lusiadas by Camoes: The theme is the epic
Romantic Poetry in 19th-Century Spain: Evolution & Themes
The Lyric of the 19th Century: Poetry as Self-Expression
Poetry is the genre par excellence to express subjectivity. In the 19th century, with Romanticism, poetry re-emerged with vigor and became the natural range of Romantic writers, concerned about feelings and self-expression. In the second half of the 19th century, with the advent of Realism and an objective view of reality, lyric poetry experienced another period of decline. Lyric poetry evolved dramatically: first with Modernism, conceived
Read MoreMiguel de Unamuno and the Generation of ’98
M. Unamuno (1864-1936)
Miguel de Unamuno was a person of concocted and borrowed ideas, an active and controversial intellectual who lived intensely with the preoccupations of his time and spread them through his work. His literature reflects a strong personality and revolves around his preoccupations: regeneration or existence. Therefore, it is a literature in which ideas predominate – reflective or philosophical – aimed at provoking the reader’s reflection through a vehement, agile, and very
Read MoreLuis de Góngora and Francisco de Quevedo: A Literary Analysis
Luis de Góngora y Argote (1561-1627)
Luis de Góngora y Argote (1561-1627) was born in Córdoba into an illustrious family. He studied at the University of Salamanca and soon returned to his city, where he held a position at the cathedral for 50 years. He was ordained as a priest and moved to Madrid as chaplain of honor to the King. He was known for his contentious relationship with other writers, particularly Quevedo.
Literary Work
Góngora’s literary work is almost exclusively poetic. He cultivated
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