Golden Age Spanish Literature: Key Authors and Movements
Golden Age Spanish Literature
Ej. Miau, official K just commit suicide, mercy, kindness I play old NLK Benin moves mong I am miserable beggars. CLARIN: Leopoldo Alas (Clarín), a great novelist of the 19th century, his work is not extensive, about 40 novels and short stories. His mastery of the language is demonstrated in the development of narrative technique, humor, and tenderness, with many characters receiving greater social and intellectual attention. His only published novel, La Regenta, is his masterpiece, and less realistic tones move from a romantic-idealistic approach to fatherhood.
La Regenta
Long, dense, complex. In two parts, which differ in narrative rhythm. Chapters 1-15 are slow, with many descriptions of characters. Chapters 16 to the end are full of action. Two main characters: Ana Ozores, who needs care, is sensitive, romantic, and tired of society; and Fermín Pas, a priest, intelligent and ambitious. Ana’s husband is Alvaro Mesia. The simple plot allows for great character descriptions, which give us a picture of Leopoldo’s human and social routine in the city. A degraded, hypocritical society lacking values, a critique of society at the time. La Regenta excels in its humor and irony, descriptions, and rich dialogues.
Conceptismo and Culteranismo
Both are literary movements that extend beyond poetry and prose, coming to the theater. The underlying vital skepticism causes one to address the concept and the other to address learnedness. Both movements break with the Renaissance and literary codes, using resources of surprise for the reader. Only from these two points of view can one understand the differences between them.
Culteranismo
Lope de Vega is its maximum representative. It tends to formal beauty and colors, achieved through a careful elaboration of language and diverse literary profusion.
Conceptismo
Francisco de Quevedo and Baltasar Gracián are its main exponents. It tends to conciseness of expression, density, wit, and acuity, using ellipses and paradoxes.
Poetry
Lyric poetry intensifies and renews itself, breaking molds with more brightness in 17th-century Spain. Metric: Italian verse (11 syllables), sonnet, octave real, silva, together with the Italian metric shape, the Castilian abounds: limericks, quatrains. Popular lyric forms are revitalized, such as letrillas, ballads, and carols.
Themes
- Love poetry
- Poetry of moral character
- Religious poetry
- Satirical-burlesque poetry
Prose
Besides the picaresque novel, there are short, Byzantine, and allegorical novels. Collections are published in various epochs. The Byzantine novel derives from the previous century. Allegorical novel: Baltasar Gracián is its maximum representative. Novel of manners: it reflects environments, types, characters, and customs.
Picaresque Novel
Lazarillo de Tormes is the unique example of the movement, towards realism. Characteristics: first-person narrative, open narrative structure, realistic character, rogue origin, the rogue does not raise his social position, moralistic tones.
Luis de Góngora
Letrillas and Ballads: A large variety of themes, with beauty, grace, and charm.
Sonnets: Perfect structure. A poet looking for a complicated and consummate poetic language, full of verbal beauty. Hyperbatons, metaphors, metonymy are used, making it difficult to read. It is bright and colorful, complex.
Poetry
Fable of Polyphemus and Galatea tells how these is love. The myth already in the Odyssey, and chiaroscuro contrasts appear, as can be seen in the gentle giant Polyphemus.
Las Soledades
Few events are narrated, using hard and complex lines. He left without finishing a poem dedicated to the Duke of Béjar.
Francisco de Quevedo
Poetry: Master of the language and all its resources. Thematic variety and is one of the most disclosing Spanish poets.
Poetry
Love Poetry: Amorous lyric of the time, always fits the idea with beauty in the language.
Metaphysical Poetry
Themes such as anguish, betrayal, and the presence of death.
Moral Poetry
Critical of human weaknesses.
Satirical Poetry
His wit and inexhaustible ability for mockery, criticism, and deformation.
Prose Work
Dreams: Formed by 5 dreams, criticism of manners and vices, burlesque but also worried.
El Buscón
His best work, merely linking and telling the misfortunes of the protagonist.