The Generation of ’27: Spanish Poets, Works, and Styles
The Generation of ’27: Key Poets and Literary Contributions
The following profiles detail the lives, works, and styles of the most prominent members of the Generation of ’27, a group of Spanish poets who rose to prominence in the 1920s.
Pedro Salinas (Madrid, 1892 – Boston, 1951)
Salinas studied Law and Literature. He was a poet focused on the theme of love. He was influenced by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Juan Ramón Jiménez, and Vanguard movements (Ultraism and Futurism).
Works:
- La voz a ti debida (1934, written before exile)
- Razón de amor (written after exile)
Style:
Simple, colloquial, and sincere poetry. Highly sensitive, he often used the short poem without traditional rhyme or rhythm, relying instead on the repetition of words or syntactic structures.
Jorge Guillén (Valladolid, 1893 – Málaga, 1984)
Guillén earned a Doctorate in Literature in Madrid. After the Spanish Civil War, he lived in exile in America, continuing his teaching career. His poetry is considered “pure” or traditional, highlighting the essential aspects of life, but not without feeling. His poems celebrate the here and now.
Work:
- Cántico (1928–1950)
Style:
Simple, with a predominance of nouns and simple syntactic structures, constantly mixing cultured metrics (such as sonnets) with traditional forms (such as the romance).
Gerardo Diego (Santander, 1896 – Madrid, 1987)
Diego studied Law and Literature in Madrid. His poetry blends traditional forms with humor and Vanguard elements.
Works:
- Imagen (1922, Creationist poetry)
- Alondra de verdad (1941, traditional work)
Style:
Mastery of form, integrating the new and the classic. Very sensitive to beauty but often devoid of overt emotion.
Federico García Lorca (Fuente Vaqueros, 1898 – Víznar, 1936)
Lorca studied Law and Literature in Granada. In 1919, he moved to the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid.
Works:
- Early works show Modernist and Bécquerian influences (Libro de poemas).
- Andalusian themes and the theme of death (Romancero gitano).
- Mixture of traditional and Avant-garde (Poeta en Nueva York).
Style:
A unique blend of the cultured and the popular. The brightness and color of his poems are unique; each poem is a hallmark of his identity.
Vicente Aleixandre (Seville, 1898 – Madrid, 1984)
Aleixandre studied Law and Business in Madrid. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977.
Works:
- Early works focused on Surrealism (Ámbito).
- “Uprooted” poetry (Sombra del Paraíso).
- Return to Surrealism in his final stage (Diálogos del conocimiento).
Style:
A great master of poetry, using a simple style to explore basic themes like love and life.
Dámaso Alonso (Madrid, 1898 – Madrid, 1990)
Alonso began studying Law but switched to Philology. He served as President of the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) from 1968 to 1982.
Works:
- Influenced by Romanticism and Modernism (Viento y verso).
- His “rooted” poetry (Hijos de la ira).
Style:
Frequent use of progressive parallelism, typical of biblical poetry, often employing violent language that includes profanity and vulgarity.
Luis Cernuda (Seville, 1902 – Mexico City, 1963)
Cernuda studied Law, though his life revolved around literature. His themes center on frustration, longing for a better world, boredom, and indifference—reflections of his existence.
Works:
- Influenced by Guillén (Perfil del aire).
- The theme of love (Un río, un amor).
- Surrealist themes (Donde habite el olvido).
- Compilation of all works (La realidad y el deseo).
- Works written after the war and exile (Vivir sin estar viviendo).
Style:
Great influence from Bécquer. Uses a conversational tone with colloquialisms, employing long, unrhymed verse. Reflects his inner world in every poem with great romantic feeling.
Rafael Alberti (El Puerto de Santa María, 1902 – 1999)
Alberti initially dedicated himself to painting but abandoned it for literature. He shows clear influence from traditional romances, songs, and the poetry of Lope de Vega and Garcilaso. His work evolved through different trends: popular, Surrealist, and humanized/political.
Works:
- Popular themes (Marinero en tierra).
- Surrealist themes (Sobre los ángeles).
- Humanized/Political themes (El poeta en la calle).
Style:
Known as “the poet of the people” for his simple and accessible style, using poetry as an instrument capable of conversation, moving, and inciting action.