Noucentisme and Juan Ramón Jiménez
Noucentisme and the Generation of ’14
Introduction
Noucentisme, Generation of ’14, or Vanguards are the generic names of a primarily literary aesthetic movement. This movement gathered authors, mostly essayists, situated between the Generation of ’98 and the Generation of ’27. The term Noucentisme, coined in Catalan by Eugenio d’Ors as noucentisme, refers to the Catalan authors who emerged from the Renaixença and aimed to elevate Catalan culture to a European level. They sought beauty and formal
Read More16th-Century Renaissance: Literature, Art, and Culture
The 16th-Century Renaissance
A Changing World
The Renaissance, originating in 15th-century Italy, flourished across Europe during the 16th century. This era marked a significant shift from the medieval worldview:
- Humanism: This new mentality separated the supernatural and human realms. God was no longer the universe’s center, and human reason gained prominence.
- Religion: While initially less central, religion regained importance in the latter half of the 16th century due to the Protestant Reformation
17th Century Spanish Theater: A Golden Age
XVII Century Spanish Theater: A Golden Age
The Rise of Spanish Theater
The seventeenth century marks a golden age for Spanish theater, distinguished by its prolific authors, exceptional works, and significant social impact. This flourishing period was largely due to the contributions of Lope de Vega, whose innovative “New Comedy” shaped the landscape of Spanish drama.
New Comedy: Lope de Vega’s Innovation
Lope de Vega introduced groundbreaking changes to dramatic structure and style:
- Plays disregarded
Figures of Speech: A Comprehensive Guide
Figures of Speech
Figures by Repetition of Sounds
Alliteration
Repetition of a sound or syllable to achieve a musical or sound effect.
Onomatopoeia
Alliteration in which the sound evokes the thing being described.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or words at the beginning of several lines or phrases to emphasize an idea or mark grammatical patterns.
Epiphora
Repetition of a word or words at the end of several lines or phrases to create a repetitive effect.
Concatenation (Anadiplosis)
Repetition at the beginning
Read MoreSpanish Renaissance and Baroque Literature: A Golden Age of Poetry
First Rebirth: Spain’s Literary Renaissance
Spain, an outward-looking and growing country, favored a rapprochement with the European mainstream, especially in Italy. The influence of Italian opera led to the adoption of new poetic forms, including heroic verse, seven-syllable lines, sonnets, octava real, and lira.
The aesthetic ideal emphasized naturalness and avoided affectation. Imitatio was readily accepted. Garcilaso de la Vega stands out as the most representative author of this period.
The dominant
Read MoreRenaissance Literature in Spain: A Golden Age of Prose and Poetry
Garcilaso de la Vega
Life
Representing the Renaissance ideal of the gentleman: military man (brave warrior) and scholar (great poet). His lifelong love, Isabel Freire, inspired his love poetry.
Works
He penned over 50 poems, including 8 sonnets and three Eclogues (pastoral works). Key themes include his love for Isabel Freire, female beauty, idealized nature, and carpe diem: the exhortation to enjoy youth before old age.
Style
Garcilaso’s poetry signifies a profound renewal of poetic language, embodying
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