Miguel Hernández: Tradition and Avant-Garde Poetry
Tradition and Avant-Garde in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
Miguel Hernández’s (MH) interest in literature initially led him to imitate writers belonging to the Golden Age.
MH produced an innovative poetry. His first published poem, “Pastoral,” is clearly influenced by the modernism of Rubén Darío. MH adds feeling, introspection, and complicity. On his first trip to Madrid, he wrote “Perito en Lunas” (“Proficient in Moons”), an homage to Góngora.
Later, he moved toward a Catholic poetry influenced by the advice of Ramón Sijé. His poetry here merges emotional identification with Hernandez’s vital nature.
In “El Rayo que no Cesa” (“The Lightning that Does Not Stop”), there is a clear influence of Quevedo.
His work also shows the influence of Lope de Vega. His contribution to poetry is highlighted by his book “Perito en Lunas,” which adds new images with a certain degree of surrealist irrationality. Neruda dedicated odes to Aleixandre and to an abundance of bizarre images. This period coincides with an ideological shift in which MH abandons Catholicism and moves away from social traditionalism. There is a duality between tradition and avant-garde, until late 1935, when, with a tribute to Garcilaso, he ignores the avant-garde influence, submitting to the classical tradition of the sonnet.
- When the Civil War broke out, he left the Surrealist technique and wrote for the people.
- Traditional folk poetry became prevalent.
- The Romance during the Civil War was the best way to communicate with the people.
In the poetry of MH, the sadness of separated lovers and anxiety over the lack of liberty stand out.
Tradition and Avant-Garde in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
MH’s interest in literature initially led him to imitate writers belonging to the Golden Age.
MH produced innovative poetry. His first published poem, “Pastoral,” is clearly influenced by the modernism of Rubén Darío. MH adds feeling, introspection, and complicity. On his first trip to Madrid, he wrote “Perito en Lunas,” an homage to Góngora.
Later, he moved toward Catholic poetry influenced by the advice of Ramón Sijé. Here, his poetry merges emotional identification with Hernandez’s vital nature.
In “El Rayo que no Cesa,” there is a clear influence of Quevedo.
His work also shows the influence of Lope de Vega. His contribution to poetry is highlighted by his book “Perito en Lunas,” which adds new images with a certain degree of surrealist irrationality. Neruda dedicated odes to Aleixandre and to an abundance of bizarre images. This period coincides with an ideological shift in which MH abandons Catholicism and moves away from social traditionalism. There is a duality between tradition and avant-garde, until late 1935, when, with a tribute to Garcilaso, he ignores the avant-garde influence, submitting to the classical tradition of the sonnet.
- When the Civil War broke out, he left the Surrealist technique and wrote for the people.
- Traditional folk poetry became prevalent.
- The Romance during the Civil War was the best way to communicate with the people.
In MH’s poetry, the sadness of separated lovers and anxiety over the lack of liberty stand out.