Modernism and Avant-Garde: A Literary Journey
Modernism
Modernism, a literary movement in Spain, developed between 1880 and 1910. It was characterized by a creative rebellion and reflected the universal crisis in art, science, religion, and politics.
Key Characteristics of Modernism:
- Rejection of reality, escaping through time and exotic settings.
- Emphasis on formal perfection and individuality.
- Focus on beauty and musicality.
- Diversity of styles.
- Use of mythology and sensationalism.
- Constant lexical renewal.
- Desire for innovative inspiration.
Themes of Modernism:
- Romantic sadness, melancholy, and anguish.
- Search for solitude and rejection of society.
- Escape from reality.
- Idealized love and eroticism.
- Defense of American Indians.
Rubén Darío: Life and Works
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento (1867-1916), known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan journalist and diplomat. He lived and worked in Chile, Argentina, Spain, France, and other European countries. His literary works include prose and poetry, notably Azul (1888), Prosas Profanas (1896), and Cantos de Vida y Esperanza (1905). His work features sensuality, eroticism, and musicality, exploring themes of time, the poet’s mission, faith, and life’s mysteries.
The Avant-Garde
The Avant-Garde, derived from the French military term “avant-garde,” refers to innovative artistic movements of the early 20th century. These movements sought radical renewal in form and content, exploring the relationship between art and life.
Characteristics of Avant-Garde Poets:
- Emphasis on novelty and surprise.
- Renewal of expressive resources.
- Exploration of the irrational.
- References to modern life, technology, and societal concerns.
General Characteristics of Modernism
- Lack of a clear, defined line.
- Adaptation to the pace of modern life: vagueness, confusion, and anguish.
- Breaking traditional rules with free verse.
- Extensive use of complex metaphors.
- Altered grammatical order.
- Use of ingenuity and imagination.
Avant-Garde Expressions
Impressionism: Liberation of color and nature.
Expressionism: Reconstruction of reality, expression of anxiety through novels and plays.
Fauvism: Free imagery and expression of feelings through color.
Cubism: Association of impossible elements, graphic arrangement of words, and humor.
Futurism: Exaltation of the sensual, worship of machines, and portrayal of reality in motion.
Dadaism: Succession of words and sounds, illogical and absurd.
Surrealism: Creation of a new man, use of cruelty and black humor.
Pablo Neruda: Life and Works
Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (1904-1973), known as Pablo Neruda, was a Chilean poet and political activist. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. His works include Crepusculario (1923), Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924), and Residence on Earth (1935).
Renaissance Literature
The Renaissance marked a shift from the Middle Ages, with socio-historical changes and a new worldview. This led to an artistic and literary boom, starting in 15th-century Italy and spreading across Europe.
Italy: The Fullness of the Renaissance
Italian city-states renewed literary forms. Latin literature flourished, and classical genres and motifs were adapted. Key figures include Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola.
Other Renaissance Literatures
Renaissance literature spread across Europe in the 16th century. Key French figures include François Rabelais, Pierre de Ronsard, and Michel de Montaigne.
Verses for the Death of His Father
Jorge Manrique’s elegy, Verses for the Death of His Father, reflects on life, fame, fortune, and death. It draws on classical and medieval precedents and alludes to Castilian history.
Characteristics of Renaissance Literature
- Adoption of Italian metric and verse forms.
- Characteristic genres like eclogue, ode, and letter.
- Natural and simple language.
- Themes of love, nature, mythology, and beauty.
- Renaissance topics like Carpe Diem, Descriptio Puellae, Beatus Ille, Locus Amoenus, and the Golden Mean.
Baroque Background
The Spanish Baroque emerged during the Golden Age, under the rule of Philip II, Philip III, and Philip IV.
Characteristics of Baroque
- Pessimism due to the failure of Renaissance ideals.
- Disappointment and focus on death.
- Concerns about time.
- Loss of confidence in Renaissance ideals.
Life Is a Dream
Calderón de la Barca’s Life Is a Dream explores the concept of life as a dream, drawing on various philosophical traditions.
History
Published in 1635.
Structure
Three acts, reflecting the progression of events.
Genre
Baroque theater, specifically popular theater.
Characters
- Segismundo: The main character, a repressed soul who evolves throughout the play.
- Rosaura: The female protagonist, seeking to prevent Astolfo from becoming king.
- Basil: King of Poland, Segismundo’s father.
- Clotaldo: Segismundo’s tutor.
- Astolfo: Duke of Muscovy.
- Estrella: Princess of Basil’s court.
- Clarín: Rosaura’s companion.