The Literary Movement of the Generation of ’27 in Spain

Posted on Oct 8, 2025 in Latin

Historical Context of the Generation of ’27

The Generation of ’27 emerged during a turbulent period in Spanish history, marked by significant political, social, and economic shifts:

  1. Capitalism was established as the dominant economic system.
  2. Failure of the Industrial Revolution to fully develop in Spain.
  3. Significant demographic population increase.
  4. The resulting economic pressure led to the great Spanish emigration abroad and the beginning of the rural exodus.
  5. Increased identification of citizens with the labor movement, leading to the creation of the first political parties and trade unions:
    • Marxism: PSOE
    • Trade Unions: UGT, CNT, CCOO
    • Anarchism: La Mano Negra (The Black Hand)
    • Republicanism: IR, RRP
  6. The collapse of the Cánovas political system (Restoration period).
  7. The start of the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923–1930).
  8. The global economic crisis following the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
  9. The establishment of the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939).
  10. The rise of regional nationalisms in Spain (Basque, Catalan, Andalusian, etc.).
  11. Key elections held in 1931, 1933, and 1936.
  12. The start of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), which tragically ended the generation’s collective activity.

Defining the Generation of ’27

Although the group meets all the prerequisites for a formal literary generation, the name “Generation of ’27” was adopted primarily for convenience, commemorating the 1927 homage to Luis de Góngora. The key characteristics defining this group include:

  • Birth Dates: Members were born within a short span of years (approximately 1890–1905).
  • Similar Intellectual Formation: Most members were academics, teachers, or highly educated intellectuals.
  • Strong Relationships: The vast majority met and interacted frequently, particularly at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid.
  • Collective Acts: Participation in defining collective events, such as the 1927 Homage to Góngora.
  • Absence of a Single Guide: While lacking one specific mentor, they were heavily influenced by figures like Rubén Darío and Juan Ramón Jiménez.
  • Generational Language: A shared aesthetic goal focused on the search for pure poetry.

General Features of their Poetry

The Generation of ’27 sought to renew Spanish poetic aesthetics by balancing innovation (Avant-garde) with traditional Spanish literary forms.

Key Poetic Characteristics

  • Renewal of Spanish poetic aesthetics, embracing innovation while maintaining tradition.
  • Use of religious vocabulary and intense lyricism in their poems.
  • The most frequently used literary device is the metaphor, often complex and surprising.
  • Use of traditional forms (sonnet, ballad, carol) alongside modern forms (blank verse, free verse).
  • Thematic evolution: Moving from the concept of “art for art’s sake” toward a more humanized, socially engaged poetry.
  • A persistent search for beauty achieved primarily through the image (pure poetry).

Stages of the Generation of ’27

  1. Stage 1 (Until 1927): Strong influence of the avant-garde movements. Focus on pure poetry.
  2. Stage 2 (1927–1936): Humanization of poetry. Influence of Surrealism; themes become more existential and social.
  3. Stage 3 (After the Civil War): The generation disperses due to exile and death, marking the end of the collective movement.

Influences and Poetic Trends

The poets of the Generation of ’27 synthesized various influences, both traditional and modern, leading to distinct poetic trends:

Avant-garde Movements

  • Creationism: An avant-garde movement emphasizing the need to create a new reality through poetry.
  • Ultraism: Proposing the perception of the world through illogical or surprising images.
  • Surrealism: Focused on expressing the unconscious world and automatic writing.

Key Influencers

Earlier authors and thinkers who significantly shaped the generation included Juan Ramón Jiménez, Antonio Machado, and the philosophical thoughts of José Ortega y Gasset.

Poetic Trends within the Group

  • Neopopulism Poetry: Rafael Alberti and Federico García Lorca.
  • Pure Poetry: Jorge Guillén, Emilio Prados, and Dámaso Alonso.
  • Neo-Romantic Poetry: Pedro Salinas and Manuel Altolaguirre.
  • Surrealist Poetry: Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Vicente Aleixandre, and Luis Cernuda.
  • Avant-garde Poetry (General): Gerardo Diego.

Key Authors and Works

The following poets constitute the core of the Generation of ’27:

  • Dámaso Alonso (1890–1990)
    • Poemas de la ciudad (Poems of the City)
    • El viento y el verso (The Wind and the Verse)
  • Pedro Salinas (1891–1951)
    • Largo lamento (Long Lament)
    • La voz a ti debida (The Voice Owed to You)
  • Jorge Guillén (1893–1984)
    • Cántico (Canticle)
    • Clamor (Clamor)
  • Gerardo Diego (1896–1987)
    • El romance del Duero (The Romance of the Duero)
    • Manual de espumas (Manual of Foam)
  • Federico García Lorca (1898–1936)
    • Bodas de sangre (Blood Wedding)
    • La casada infiel (The Unfaithful Wife)
  • Vicente Aleixandre (1898–1984)
    • Ámbito (Scope)
    • Espadas como labios (Swords like Lips)
  • Emilio Prados (1899–1962)
    • A lo largo del arroyo (Along the Creek)
    • La Ciudad (The City)
  • Luis Cernuda (1902–1963)
    • Ocnos (Ocnos)
    • Donde habite el olvido (Where Oblivion Dwells)
  • Rafael Alberti (1902–1999)
    • Marinero en tierra (Sailor on Earth)
    • Sobre los ángeles (About Angels)
  • Manuel Altolaguirre (1905–1959)
    • Soledades juntas (Solitudes Together)
    • Vida poética (Poetic Life)