Catalan Literature: A Historical Overview
Salvador Espriu’s Literary Project
Salvador Espriu’s work, encompassing poetry, drama, and narrative, began around 1929 with the Spanish edition of Israel. His early narrative works, such as Dr. Rip, Laia, and Aspects and Ariadne in the Grotesque Labyrinth, and plays like Antigone and The Story of Esther, emerged during his university years.
Ariadne’s Songs (1949) connected his poetry with his pre-war narrative through satirical verse set in the world of Arenys de Mar. Cemetery of Sinera (1946) is an elegy for a world destroyed by war, introducing the theme of death, which became prominent in his later works. The Hours, a book of poems divided into three parts, is dedicated to those nearing death. Mr. Death Presents offers a satirical take on salvation. The Walk and the Wall delves into a mystical labyrinth where Espriu explored themes related to Kabbalah, emphasizing the angst and solitude surrounding humanity. In this work, the poet expressed the tensions within his community.
The Skin of a Bull (1960) marked Espriu’s most significant public recognition. Addressing Catalonia, the poet denounces the injustices of the Civil War. His work advocated for social engagement, and his civic poetry had a profound impact.
Modern Catalan Poetry
Catalan poetry in the 1920s was marked by the loss of prominent figures from the war, such as Carles Riba and J.V. Foix. Experimental poetry continued to be cultivated, often related to historical events. Lyrical realism, influenced by post-symbolist poetry (particularly the work of Josep Vinyoli), also emerged as a significant aesthetic trend.
During the following decade, poets like Formosa, Margarit, and Gimferrer reached artistic maturity. New literary prizes brought recognition to emerging poets such as Alonso, Soria, Casasses, and Alzamora. Some of these poets championed a baroque style and heterodox approaches to poetry. Casasses, for example, built an alternative circuit for reciting poetry, becoming an influential figure.
Post-Civil War Poetry (1970s)
Until 1945, many authors remained in Spain but chose silence and secrecy. Poetry became the dominant genre, as its diffusion was easier in restricted areas. In the late 1950s, Carles Riba became a reference point for young Catalan culture, embodying values like moral rigor, literary excellence, and faith in culture. Foix championed formal and linguistic experimentalism, drawing from avant-garde movements.
The 1960s saw a debate between symbolist aesthetics and a view of literature as a form of social commitment. This latter approach, known as social or historical realism (influenced by Marxist and Brechtian ideas), advocated for involvement in the struggle for individual and social liberation. This period also witnessed a renewed interest in the Nova Cançó (New Song) movement.
In the 1970s, Gabriel Ferrater and J.V. Foix were influential figures for younger generations. They practiced poetry for its own sake, exploring the possibilities of language. In Valencia, poets like Joan Fuster, Vicent Andrés Estellés, and Joan Navarro stood out. Other poets, such as Bru, Pinyol, and Pere Gimferrer, moved away from realism, leaning towards symbolism or experimentalism. Other notable poets of this period include Francesc Pérez Montaner, Joan Vinyoli, Manuel Granell, Narcís Comadira, and Miquel de Palol.
Theater Renovation
Language and Linguistics
Language: The science that analyzes the internal structure of languages.
Sociolinguistics: The study of language use as influenced by social context. While linguistics focuses on words, sociolinguistics focuses on the people who use them.
Code: An abstract and conventional system of signs used for communication within a given society.
Dialect: A variety of a language used in a specific communicative act.
Standard Variety: Facilitates communication among speakers of a language community, regardless of their linguistic area, social class, or occupation. It serves as a reference for formal language use and is primarily used in media and education.
Geolinguistics: The study of the world’s languages from a spatial perspective. It reveals that linguistic borders rarely coincide with political boundaries. Some languages have a restricted use and are often labeled as minority languages.
Minority Language: A language undergoing a process of decline in public and private use within a linguistic community.
Bilingualism: The alternative use of two languages by an individual, a social group, or a territory. Types of bilingualism include individual (a person can use both languages), territorial (a geographical area divided into two linguistically distinct zones), and social (individuals within a territory who use more than one language, one learned through family transmission and another belonging to another group).
Language Loyalty: Faithfulness to a particular language.
Language Rejection: A negative feeling towards a language that can lead to its decline.