Generation of ’27: Spanish Literary Movement & Essay Characteristics
The Generation of ’27: A Literary Overview
The Generation of ’27 refers to a group of Spanish poets who, in the 1920s, became the most notable writers of their time. The name originates from a meeting held in Seville in 1927, where many of these writers gathered to honor Góngora on the 300th anniversary of his death.
Shared Characteristics
- Similar social backgrounds
- Deep commitment to literature
- Collaboration on literary magazines
- Many resided in Madrid at the Residencia de Estudiantes, a liberal cultural center linked to the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, fostering an open, secular, and tolerant environment.
The authors of this generation were influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez, Ortega y Gasset, and Gómez de la Serna. They sought renewal while respecting and admiring the literature of the past, particularly Unamuno and Antonio Machado. Bécquer’s influence was instrumental in finding a strictly poetic language. From Góngora, they derived anti-realism, metamorphism, and intellectual play as pure poetry. The Generation of ’27 also revered popular forms of traditional poetry, such as songs and ballads, and embraced foreign influences from surrealism and the avant-garde.
Stages of the Generation of ’27
- 1920-1928: Early works influenced by Bécquer and Juan Ramón Jiménez, geared towards pure poetry.
- 1928-1936: Growing humanization of poetry, exploring love, desire, existence, and its problems. This period marked their greatest glory. In the years leading up to the Civil War, some writers focused on social literature and political commitment, largely supporting the Republican cause.
- 1936 onwards: During the war, their work was either silenced or politicized, often serving as propaganda for Republican ideals. After the war, many poets were exiled, their poetry drifting into anguished humanism, marked by nostalgia for their lost homeland.
Style and Innovation
The Generation of ’27 sought a new language, emphasizing the renewal of metaphor. They moved away from modernist poetry, preferring simpler forms and free verse. Their work synthesized intellectual and emotional elements, blending a mystical conception of poetry with technical rigor, and combining cultured and popular, universal and Spanish themes.
The Essay: A Personal Reflection
The essay is a genre characterized by personal reflection on a topic, written in a free and willing style. It is an open genre in both content and form, currently experiencing significant development.
Structure of an Essay
The structure varies depending on the subject, purpose, and creativity of the author. Non-fiction texts typically present ideas through presentation and argument. Argumentative essays aim to defend statements (thesis) and persuade the reader.
Typical Essay Structure:
- Introduction: Introduces the theme and aims to attract the reader’s attention.
- Development: The most extensive part, presenting and analyzing the topic. It develops the author’s ideas and incorporates necessary sources (magazines, encyclopedias, etc.).
- Conclusions: A compilation of the author’s ideas on the subject, proposing alternative solutions and summarizing the developed ideas.
- References: Lists the sources used.
General Features of Essays
- Variable length.
- Essentially argumentative, defending a particular thesis.
- Can be subject-specific or informative, aimed at a broad audience.
- Covers a wide range of subjects, not necessarily requiring scientific demonstration.
- Employs creative freedom (metaphor, simile, etc.).
- Often has a didactic intent, aiming to educate the receiver on a topic of interest.
- Commonly presented in written form, but can also be transmitted orally.