Spanish Literature from Enlightenment to Post-Franco Era
18th Century: Enlightenment
This era coincides with the Age of Enlightenment and the education of the people. Theater evolved from the Baroque period. Key figures include:
- Villaroel: Forecasts
- José Cadalso: Moroccan Letters, Lugubrious Nights
- Feijoo: Erudite and Curious Letters (considered the father of essayists)
- Jovellanos (1744-1811): Cultivated illustrated poetry, drama, and prose. He criticized Spain’s neglect and backwardness, proposing reforms on varied political and economic themes, often related to education, using simple and clear language. Notable works include Report of the Agrarian Law and Diary.
19th Century: Realism
19th-century novels aimed to reflect society with precision, featuring detailed characters and environments.
- Clarín: La Regenta, where the protagonist, Ana Ozores, is torn between Don Álvaro Mesía and Don Fermín de Pas.
- Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920): Known for his omniscient narrator and linear structure. Notable works include Doña Perfecta and Marianela. His National Episodes series comprises 46 novels narrating historical events like the Battle of Trafalgar. His contemporary Spanish novels, like El amigo Manso, Fortunata y Jacinta, Miau, Torquemada, Misericordia, and La de Bringas, offer in-depth character analysis and are often set in Madrid.
Modernism
Modernism is characterized by the creation of artificial language, interest in foreign cultures, and a focus on minority languages.
- Rubén Darío: Azul, Profane Prose, and Songs of Life and Hope. His work features renewed language, influence from new literary movements, vibrant lexicon, and use of hendecasyllable and Alexandrine meter. Themes range from natural and artificial elements to exotic landscapes. His poetry is divided into formative, modernist, Argentinian, and reflective periods.
Generation of ’98
This generation used plain language and sought to change Spain, often employing archaic terms. Azorín named the generation after the Disaster of 1898 and the loss of Spanish colonies.
- Azorín: La Voluntad reflects the helplessness of a protagonist in a traditional rural Spain. He was concerned with modernizing Spain, contributing to novels, poetry, essays, and drama.
Early 20th Century Poetry
- Antonio Machado (1875-1939): Known for rich vocabulary, adjectives, metaphors, and landscapes featuring trees and gardens. Themes include death and religion, presented in simple forms. Notable works include Campos de Castilla, Cancionero apócrifo, Soledades. Galerías. Otros poemas.
- Juan Ramón Jiménez: Pursued literary perfection. After the Spanish Civil War, he went into exile in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. His work is divided into three stages: 1. Sensitive Period (Modernist influence, Platero y yo), 2. Intellectual Stage (Diario de un poeta recién casado, mixing poetry and prose), and 3. True Stage (Philosophical, Dios deseado y deseante). He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957 and used free verse.
Novel Before 1939
Following the success of naturalistic novels, a new stage broke from realistic narrative schemes.
- Miguel de Unamuno: Focused on the ego, death, and the existence of God, prioritizing conflict over descriptions. Paz en la guerra depicts the Carlist Wars, exploring intrahistory. In Niebla, he introduced the concept of “nivola,” minimizing descriptions and emphasizing the protagonist.
- Pío Baroja: Viewed the novel as a reflection of life. His characters are vividly portrayed in a fast-paced, agile style. Notable works include Memorias de un hombre de acción, the Busqueda, Lucha por la vida, and El árbol de la ciencia trilogies. His style is clear, concise, with short sentences and paragraphs.
Generation of ’27
This generation saw the evolution of Modernism and the introduction of avant-garde elements. They paid homage to Góngora and were influenced by Ramón Gómez de la Serna (creator of greguerías), popular and traditional forms, José Ortega y Gasset, avant-garde movements, painting, film, and music, particularly Andalusian poets.
- Pedro Salinas: Viewed poetry as a form of knowledge, focusing on the theme of love in works like El Contemplado.
- Jorge Guillén: A poet of pure poetry.
- Rafael Alberti: Known for popular poetry, including Marinero en tierra, Cal y canto, and Sobre los ángeles.
Spanish Novel After 1939
This period shifted towards new realism, characterized by colloquial dialogue.
- Camilo José Cela (Nobel Prize winner): La familia de Pascual Duarte depicts a hostile and violent environment. La colmena reflects the life of a writer in Madrid struggling with economic hardship.
- Miguel Delibes: Focused on Castilian villages and towns. His work has three stages: existential, social, and innovative. Notable works include El camino and El hereje.
Spanish Poetry After 1939
The Spanish Civil War led many writers into exile.
- Luis Cernuda: La realidad y el deseo (including Ocnos and Desolación de la quimera).
- Dámaso Alonso: Hijos de la ira.
- Generation of ’50: Left-leaning intellectuals like Jaime Gil de Biedma and Ángel González.
- Generation of ’70: Published after the Franco dictatorship, including Luis Antonio de Villena and Leopoldo María Panero.
Spanish Theater After 1939
Theater faced challenges due to its reliance on staging.
- Enrique Jardiel Poncela: Achieved success with comedic theater, often focusing on love.
- Antonio Buero Vallejo: Historia de una escalera.
- Alfonso Sastre: Escuadra hacia la muerte.