Literary Movements: Realism to 21st Century

Posted on Mar 12, 2025 in Latin

European Realism

French:

  • Stendhal (*The Red and the Black*)
  • Balzac (*The Human Comedy*)
  • Flaubert (*Madame Bovary*)

English:

  • Dickens (*A Christmas Carol*, *Oliver Twist*, *A Tale of Two Cities*)

Spanish Realism

Juan Valera: (*Pepita Jimenez*, *Juanita*)

Clarín:

A Zamora law professor, writer, and regular essayist, he wrote short stories, literary criticism, and novels.

  • *The Ruler*: Recreates a plot in Spanish society whose values have degenerated (Vetusta). Themes include adultery, social class criticism, the church, ambition, and Don Juanism. Structure: Three days and three years.

Galdós:

From Gran Canaria, he studied law but focused on literature, aspiring to reflect reality. His language captured the way characters spoke, sober, natural, and with real-life characters. He also wrote thesis novels.

  • *Fortunata and Jacinta*: Themes of deceit, sterility, and maternity.
  • Spiritualist Novels: (*Mercy*, *The Grandfather*)

Twentieth Century

European Literature:

  • Parnassianism: Escape from the world, focusing on formal beauty. Charles Baudelaire (*The Flowers of Evil*)
  • Decadence: Finding formal beauty, using rude and vile language. Paul Verlaine (*Saturnine Poems*)
  • Symbolism: Deep existence and imagination. Arthur Rimbaud (*Illuminations*)

Modernism

Spanish:

  • Poetry: Manuel Machado, Antonio Machado (*Solitudes and Solitudes*, *Galleries and Other Poems*), Juan Ramón Jiménez (*Souls of Violet*, *Sad Arias*)
  • Novel: Valle-Inclán (*Sonatas*)
  • Theater: Eduardo Marquina (*In Flanders, the Sun Has Not Set*), Valle-Inclán (*Divine Words*, *Bohemian Lights*)

Rubén Darío:

  • *Azul*: Initiator of modernism with Parnassian influence; prose stories and poems reflect the author’s innovative concerns.
  • *Profane Prose*: A brighter book, full of harmony and love for art, including “Sonatina”.
  • *Cantos de Vida y Esperanza*: Marks a new stage with subjective or intimate issues.

Generation of ’98

  • Miguel de Unamuno: (*Peace in War*, *Aunt Tula*, *Mist*, *San Manuel Bueno, Martyr*)
  • Pío Baroja: (*The Search*, *Zalacaín the Adventurer*, *The Tree of Knowledge*)
  • José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín): (*The Confessions of a Small Philosopher*, *Castilla*)
  • Valle-Inclán: (*Sonatas*, *Tirano Banderas*, *Bohemian Lights* (theater))
  • Antonio Machado: (*Campos de Castilla*, *Solitudes*)

Novecentismo

  • Essay: José Ortega y Gasset (*The Dehumanization of Art*)
  • Novel: Gabriel Miró (*The Leper Bishop*), Ramón Pérez de Ayala (*Tiger Juan*)
  • Poetry: Juan Ramón Jiménez (*Sad Arias*, *Diary of a Newlywed Poet*)

Vanguard

Europe:

  • Futurism: Marinetti (*Manifesto*)
  • Cubism: Apollinaire (*Caligramas*)
  • Dadaism: Tristan Tzara (*Approximate Man*)
  • Surrealism: André Breton (*Surrealist Manifesto*)

Spain:

  • Creationism: Gerardo Diego (*Manual of Foams*), Juan Larrea and Vicente Huidobro (*The Parachute Trip*)
  • Ultraism: Pedro Garfias (*Southern Wing*), Guillermo de Torre (*Propellers*), and Gerardo Diego (*Image*)

Ramón Gómez de la Serna: Creator of *greguerías*.

Generation of ’27

  • Pedro Salinas: *The Voice Due to You*, *Reason of Love*
  • Gerardo Diego: *Human Verses*
  • Federico García Lorca: *Poem of the Deep Song*, *Poet in New York*, *Gypsy Ballads*
  • Rafael Alberti: *Where Oblivion Dwells*, *Reality and Desire*
  • Miguel Hernández: *Expert in Moons*, *Wind of the People*, *The Unceasing Ray*

Poetry Since 1939

Rooted Poetry:

  • Luis Rosales (*The House On*)
  • Leopoldo Panero (*Writing Every Minute*)
  • Luis Felipe Vivanco (*The Clearing*)

Uprooted Poetry:

  • Dámaso Alonso (*Children of Wrath*)
  • Blas de Otero (*Fiery Angel*)
  • José Hierro (*Quinta of ’42*)
  • Gabriel Celaya (*Iberian Songs*)

Poetry of the ’50s and ’60s

  • Blas de Otero (*I Ask for Peace and the Word*, *That Which is From Spain*)
  • Gabriel Celaya (*What Else is in Silence*, *Their Cards*)
  • José Luis González (*Rough World*)
  • Jaime Gil de Biedma (*Travel Companion*)
  • Claudio Rodríguez (*Gift of Drunkenness*)
  • José Agustín Goytisolo
  • José Ángel Valente (*Point Zero*)

Latest Trends

  • Pere Gimferrer (*Burning Love*)
  • Leopoldo María Panero
  • Félix de Azúa
  • Vanguard: Julio Llamazares
  • Traditional Classical: Andrés Trapiello
  • Experimental: Luis García Montero
  • Poetry of Silence: José Ángel Valente