Spanish Literature: Movements, Authors, and Key Works

Posted on Mar 4, 2025 in Latin

Generation of ’27

Production Quality and Exceptional Poets: (Garcia Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Vicente Aleixandre).
Traits: Personal relations, a tribute to Góngora, formation of common cultural interests.
Evolution:

  • Formation stage (Juan Ramón Jiménez’s influence).
  • Personal stage.
  • Social and political concerns stage (influenced by Surrealism) (after the Spanish Civil War, they were dispersed).

Neopopularism: Short compositions and high lyrical intensity (Rafael Alberti, Federico García Lorca).
Influence of Classic and Pure Poetry: Góngora and Jiménez influenced (Pedro Salinas and Jorge Guillén).
Avant-Garde Poetry: Influence of Creationism, Ultraism, Surrealism (Gerardo Diego, Luis Cernuda, Vicente Aleixandre).

Novecentismo

Authors with solid intellectual formation. Europe was a role model; they looked at problems and solutions. Key Figure: José Ortega y Gasset.

Avant-Garde

A set of movements characterized by the desire for rupture, renewal, and the previous amount.

Key Authors and Works

Juan Ramón Jiménez:

  • Early influence: Modernism, makes intimate poetry, descriptive and ornamental.
  • Later conception of poetry changes to pure poetry (eternity/poet = god/Poetry = beauty).
  • Key Work: *Platero and I*.

Antonio Machado:

  • Modernist period: *Soledades, Galerías y Otros Poemas* (projects and encourages this in his symbolism).
  • *Campos de Castilla* (political and social) (through the Castilian landscape).

Pío Baroja:

  • Reflects philosophical preoccupations about survival.
  • Tough fight.
  • Novels in trilogies (*The Basque Country*).

Miguel de Unamuno:

  • Criticized for human existence.
  • Dumped in intimate preoccupations.
  • Essays: To express their ideas and reflections.
  • Novels: Predominance of dialogue and monologue (*Niebla*).
  • Edge (around the “casticismo”).

Ramón María del Valle-Inclán:

  • Noucentista poet and great playwright.
  • Starts with Modernism, but *esperpento* becomes important.
  • Addresses serious issues through mockery (presenting a deformed reality).
  • Key Work: *Luces de Bohemia*.

Naturalism

Pushed to the extreme, Realism is a current impulse by Émile Zola. “Clarín” (pseudonym of Leopoldo Alas) is known for his literary criticism. *La Regenta*: City conflict (Vetusta) dominated by two men for a woman. A full analysis of reality, studying the landscapes.

Blasco Ibáñez: Presents the Valencian world (trade, agriculture, fisheries). Key Work: *Cañas y barro*.

Modernism

In the Hispanic sphere, artists react to the bourgeoisie.

Rubén Darío:

  • Pursued formal novelty.
  • Believed in the superiority of poets.
  • *Azul…* = Prose / Creates a mythological world.
  • *Cantos de vida y esperanza*: Temporary theme, and intimate reflection.

Realist Movement

A movement that purports to represent the realities of interest.

José María de Pereda: Author of novels in Cantabria. Exaltation and idealization of the customs of the people. *Sotileza* = Fisherman’s life.

Juan Valera: Whose landscapes are set in Andalusia, adequately reflecting an idealized Andalusia. Importance of the characteristic landscapes. *Pepita Jiménez*.

Benito Pérez Galdós:

  • Stands for the characterization and integration of characters and daily life in historical facts.
  • Combines different techniques such as dialogue and monologue.
  • The language is adapted to each character.

Works:

  1. *Episodios Nacionales*: 46 stories on the history of the 19th century.
  2. Novels of the First Period: Natural characters confronted with similar conservative and progressive ideas.
  3. Contemporary Novels: Depicts the reality of Madrid (*Fortunata y Jacinta*).
  4. Spiritual Novels: Centered on the world and values.