19th Century Romanticism and Realism in European Literature

Posted on Oct 4, 2024 in Music

19th Century Literature: Romanticism and Realism

1. Romanticism (1st Half of the 19th Century)

Romanticism was a cultural and political movement that began in the first half of the 19th century in Europe and America. It involved a new way of understanding the world, acknowledging that reason, while important, was not the sole defining factor of humanity. Romantic thinkers believed that human beings also possess feelings, fantasies, and dreams. Romantics expressed a desire for absolute freedom and a rejection of 18th-century rules.

1.1 Characteristics of Romanticism

  • Prevalence of Feelings over Reason: Emphasis on personal and emotional expression in art.
  • Escape from Reality:
    • History: A renewed interest in the medieval period.
    • Exoticism: Fascination with distant and unfamiliar landscapes.
    • The Unconscious: Exploration of dreams, fantasy, and mystery.
  • Exaltation of the Popular and Regional:
    • National Identity: A search for and celebration of national identity.
    • Vernacular Literature: Promotion of literature in local languages.
  • Pessimistic Worldview: A sense of disillusionment and melancholy.

1.2 Romantic Literature

Romantic literature presented a wide variety of themes, including:

  • Expression of Intimacy: Poets often revealed their innermost feelings, both joyful and melancholic, with a frequent pessimistic tone.
  • Exaltation of Freedom: Confrontation with societal norms and a sense of rebellion against established institutions and values.
  • Reflection of Mood in Landscapes: Authors used landscapes and settings to mirror their emotional states, favoring exotic, free, and remote spaces, as well as nocturnal and mysterious natural settings.
  • Nationalism: Authors sought inspiration in their nation’s past, attempting to discover the roots of their people’s customs and ultimately define a sense of collective identity.

1.3 The Romantic Movement in Spain

During the first third of the 19th century, Spain was under the absolute rule of Ferdinand VII, who persecuted liberal thinkers. Many intellectuals fled into exile in various European countries where Romantic aesthetics were flourishing. Between 1835 and 1845, when these exiles returned to Spain, the Romantic movement experienced a final surge.

1.5 Romantic Literature in Spain

A) Poetry
  • Narrative Poetry: Popular in the mid-19th century, with prominent figures like the Duke of Rivas and Angel de Saavedra (Duke of Rivas).
  • Personal Poetry: Also prominent in the mid-19th century, with José de Espronceda as a key figure.
  • Intimate Poetry: Belonging to the late Romantic period (2nd half of the 19th century), featuring Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer with his renowned work Rimas and Rosalía de Castro.
B) Prose
  • Historical Novel
  • Costumbrismo (Genre depicting customs and manners)
  • Journalism: Where Mariano José de Larra excelled.
C) Theatre
  • Renovation of Theatre: Romantic drama achieved great popular success, particularly with works like Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino by the Duke of Rivas and Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla.

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Artwork

Bécquer’s body of work, though relatively small, is fundamental to the development of contemporary prose poetry. His fame rests primarily on his Leyendas (Legends) and Rimas (Rhymes). The history of Rimas is complex; the initial manuscript was lost, and Bécquer later rewrote it partially under the title Libro de los gorriones (Book of Sparrows). Published posthumously, Rimas was organized thematically by Bécquer’s friends. The work explores themes such as:

  • The nature of poetry
  • Idealized and hopeful love for women
  • Disappointment, pain, and melancholy

Style: Post-Romanticism or Intimism

Bécquer’s style marks a departure from traditional Romanticism. He sought a simpler language to express his intimate emotions. His inspiration came from two main sources: German Romantic poetry (e.g., Heinrich Heine) and Andalusian folk poetry (e.g., Lope de Vega and later, Federico García Lorca). Bécquer successfully integrated elements from both classical and popular traditions. In his poetic theory, Bécquer aimed to create a unique form of poetry that used symbols to express the inexpressible.

Significance

:
THE POETRY OF BÉCQUER was quite innovative, because it revolutionizing the way GET POETRY CONCEIVE have made it clear precursors of contemporary poetry: Juan Ramon Jimenez, Antonio Machado, Luis Cernuda, IN GENERAL ALL THE AUTHORS OF THE GENERATION OF 27.
1.6) ROMANTIC DRAMA (PAG 380):
XIX CENTURY IS THE NEW WITNESS TO THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE THEATRE SUPPORTERS OF REFORMED XVIII and advocates of a new theater, much freer, TRIUMPHS THIS LAST IN WHOSE DETAILS ARE TAKEN MOST OF THE CENTURY COMEDY GOLD:
· REJECTION OF THE THREE UNITS IN THEATER AS XVIII century neoclassical THERE RESPECT OF 3 UNITS
· Mix of tragic and comic CONTRAST WITH STRONG unlike the eighteenth-century neoclassical THEATRE WHERE THE MIX COULD comedy and tragedy
· ABANDONMENT OF TEACHING. LOOKING FOR BUT NOT indoctrinate move in two ways: CHARACTERS WITH THE DESTINATION AND UNDER WITH THE OPPOSITE Set RICA THEATRE eighteenth century neoclassic WHERE IS THE PURPOSE OF TEACHING.
Presence of SUBJECTS AND ENVIRONMENTS typically romantic UNLIKE THE THEATRE eighteenth century neoclassical SOCIAL WHERE ARE THE ISSUES ACCORDING TO THE ILLUSTRATION
AUTHORS examines the following:
° Don Alvaro O BUT THE STRENGTH OF THE DUKE OF RIVAS IS A WORK ON THE HONOR
“José Zorrilla his most famous work, Don Juan Tenorio is a smoothed version of the Hero of Tirso de Molina The Trickster of Seville.