20th-Century Spanish American Poetry and Narrative
Poetry of the Twentieth Century
Early Years (Modernism)
The early 20th century saw the peak of Modernism in Spanish American poetry, centered around Rubén Darío and his “Azul…”. This movement involved adapting French forms into Spanish, refining the Alexandrine verse, and exploring themes like escapism, love, and eroticism.
Other prominent Modernist writers include:
- Leopoldo Lugones (Twilight of the Garden)
- Guillermo Valencia (Rites)
- Amado Nervo (Indoor Gardens)
- José Santos Chocano (Alma América)
Postmodernism
Emerging from Modernism, Postmodernism delved into themes like death, time, and the nature of reality. Key figures include:
- Baldomero Fernández Moreno (focused on immediate reality)
- Ramón López Velarde (emphasized landscape)
- Alfonsina Storni (explored the female condition)
- Juana de Ibarbourou (Compass)
- Gabriela Mistral (explored various facets of love)
Vanguardism (1920s)
The 1920s witnessed the rise of avant-garde movements influenced by European trends. Notable “isms” include:
- Ultraísmo
- Creationism
- Surrealism
- Estridentismo (focused on progress)
- Diepalismo (based on onomatopoeia)
- Euphoric
- Noismo (emphasized doubt and negation)
- Atalaya (utilized parody)
Black Poetry (1930s)
In the 1930s, Black poetry emerged, drawing inspiration from the cultural and ethnic characteristics of the Caribbean region. It explored themes like customs, myths, traditions, social discrimination, and the fight for freedom. Leading figures include:
- Luis Palés Matos
- Emilio Ballagas
- Nicolás Guillén (Mulatto Poems)
From 1945 to the Present
The period from 1945 onwards saw a diverse range of trends and movements, including:
- Pure poetry (influenced by Borges)
- Existentialist poetry
- Committed poetry (social and political, inspired by Neruda)
- Surrealist poetry
- Experimental poetry
Prominent poets of this era include:
- Ali Chumacero
- Nicanor Parra
- Eduardo Jonquieres
- Elvio Romero
- Roberto Fernández Retamar
- Marco Antonio Montes de Oca
Three Key Figures
Three poets stand out in 20th-century Spanish American poetry:
- César Vallejo: Transitioned from Modernism (The Black Heralds) to avant-garde (Trilce) and social poetry (Human Poems).
- Pablo Neruda: His work spanned Modernism (Crepusculario), neo-Romanticism (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair), avant-garde (Residence on Earth), and political poetry (Canto General).
- Octavio Paz: His early work is collected in Libertad bajo palabra, Salamandra, and Ladera este. Later, he experimented with visual poetry in Topoemas and Discos visuales.
Narrative of the Second Half of the 20th Century
Renewal in the 1940s
In the 1940s, the Latin American novel underwent a shift from realism. Writers like Miguel Ángel Asturias (Legends of Guatemala, Mr. President), Alejo Carpentier (The Kingdom of This World), and Arturo Uslar Pietri pioneered new forms of the novel.
Key figures of this period include:
- Jorge Luis Borges: Created a fictional world based on intellect, memory, and symbolism, often revisiting classical myths (The Garden of Forking Paths, Ficciones).
- Ernesto Sábato (The Tunnel)
- Julio Cortázar: Known for his experimental style (Hopscotch, Around the Day in Eighty Worlds).
- Juan Carlos Onetti: (The Shipyard)
- Adolfo Bioy Casares
- Augusto Roa Bastos: (Son of Man, I, the Supreme)
- Juan Rulfo
- Mario Benedetti
The “Boom” of the 1960s
The 1960s witnessed the “Boom” of the Latin American novel, marked by international recognition and innovative styles. Key works include:
- The Time of the Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
- On Heroes and Tombs by Ernesto Sábato
- The Lost Steps by Alejo Carpentier
- The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes
- Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar
Magical Realism
The Boom saw the rise of Magical Realism, blending reality and fantasy, the living and the dead. Alongside rural themes, urban settings became prominent. The narrative often incorporated elements of social critique and demystification of institutions like the military and the church.
Formal experimentation was also characteristic of the Boom, with techniques like fragmented narratives, multiple narrators, stream of consciousness, and linguistic innovation.
Key figures of the Boom include:
- Álvaro Mutis
- Gabriel García Márquez: Nobel laureate (One Hundred Years of Solitude, Chronicle of a Death Foretold).
- Carlos Fuentes: (The Most Transparent Region, The Years with Laura Díaz).
- Guillermo Cabrera Infante: (Three Trapped Tigers).
- Mario Vargas Llosa: (The Green House, The City and the Dogs).
The Latest Latin American Narrative
Contemporary Latin American narrative draws on oral storytelling traditions, addresses social and political issues, and critiques dictatorships. It continues to push formal boundaries.
Prominent authors include:
- Augusto Monterroso: (The Black Sheep and Other Fables).
- Cristina Peri Rossi: (The Ship of Fools).
- Laura Esquivel: (Like Water for Chocolate).
- Alfredo Bryce Echenique: (A World for Julius).
- Luis Sepúlveda: (The Old Man Who Read Love Stories).