Spanish and Latin American Literature: Authors and Trends
Post-War Spanish Literature and Beyond
After the war, there were two factions: Nationalists and Republicans. There was a dictatorship under Francisco Franco, who banned freedoms.
1940s: Rooted and Uprooted Poetry
- Rooted Poetry: Regardless of the circumstances, formal perfection and beauty of verse are valued. Religious, loving, and patriotic subjects are explored, often using the sonnet. This was the official poetry of the Generation of ’36.
- Uprooted Poetry: Outside official channels, this poetry expressed disappointment, distress, and despair. It adopted an existential, tragic tone, using verse, colloquial language, and harsh expressions. This was associated with the Generation of ’27.
1950s: The Rise of Social Poetry
Existential poetry evolved into social poetry, expressing solidarity with others and Spain. It featured a simple style, very expressive and colloquial language, and aimed to reach mainstream audiences.
1960s: Introspection and Lyrical Thought
The 1955 promotion brought intimate, lyrical, and thoughtful poetry with a careful style, natural language, symbolism, and irony.
1970s: Experimental and Cultural Poetry
Poetry became experimental, avant-garde, and sometimes cultural (social realism). Poets had extensive cultural baggage and training. There was an abundance of cultural references, a serious tone, and a renewal of style, combined with intimate issues of social or political matters. This was also the era of the Generation of ’70 or Novísimos.
From 1980 to the Present: Emotionalism and Diverse Trends
Poetry shifted towards emotionalism, developing trends such as neo-symbolism, avant-garde experimentalism, culturalism, classicism, minimalism, and poetry from experience.
Latin American Literature
Modernism and Beyond
Rubén Darío is considered the best modernist poet. He traveled widely around Europe and America and was well-versed in French poetry. Notable work: Azul.
Intimate Poetry and Manners
This style focused on simple, everyday issues and love of the land.
Avant-Garde Poetry
- 1920s: Surrealism, expressing social and existential poetry.
- 1950s and 1970s: Experimental avant-garde.
Pure Poetry
Contemporary with the Generation of ’27, this movement showed interest in both the traditional and the avant-garde.
Poetry of Negritude
This movement opposed cosmopolitanism and found inspiration in the mestizo roots of the Antilles.
Key Authors
- Blas de Otero: His work is characterized by metaphorical protests, a sense of solidarity, and discussions of social injustice. He yearned for freedom and hope for a better world, using free verse.
- Jaime Gil de Biedma: Known for his extensive poetic work expressing political rebellion and personal experiences.
- César Vallejo: An avant-garde poet whose themes included pain, social issues, and human content.
- Octavio Paz: A poet, novelist, and diplomat, Nobel Prize laureate.
- Pablo Neruda: Received the Nobel Prize in 1971. He died under troubling circumstances.
- Don Juan Manuel (14th Century, Middle Ages): A Spanish writer, one of the most original storytellers of medieval Spanish literature. He helped develop Castilian literary prose in an original way. His masterpiece is El Conde Lucanor (also called Patronio or Libro de los Ejemplos).
- Amadís of Gaul (Pre-Renaissance): Amadís was thrown into a river at birth and raised by Gandales in Scotland. He became a renowned fighter and gentleman, falling in love with Oriana, whom he married in secret. The story follows his adventures as a knight.
- Benito Pérez Galdós (Realism and Naturalism): A novelist and playwright who worked in the local press, writing satirical poems, essays, and stories.
- Leopoldo Alas Clarín: Collaborated on music theory and learned from Cervantes and Fray Luis de León. His masterpiece is La Regenta, featuring a wealth of characters and secondary levels.
- Emilia Pardo Bazán: The first to introduce and defend French Naturalism in Spain. She was appointed Professor of Literature.