Spanish Poetry After the Civil War: Trends and Key Poets
Spanish Poetry After the Civil War
The Spanish Civil War caused many deaths and exiles, interrupting the natural evolution of Spanish literature. The regime imposed strict censorship on publications expressing even minimal dissent.
Post-War Poetic Trends
Post-war poetry saw two main trends: the rooted and the uprooted.
The Rooted
Represented by authors of the Generation of ’36, compliant with the regime, adopting a classical approach and heroic tone. Notable figures include:
- Luis Rosales (Retablo de Navidad)
- Leopoldo Maria Panero (Estar en Vacío)
The Uprooted
Reflected the poet’s vicissitudes in times of anguish, pain, and hopelessness. This trend led to social poetry, represented by Dámaso Alonso in Hijos de la Ira.
Children of the 50s: Social Poetry
Poets felt the need to offer critical testimony of reality, committing to the situation in Spain. They sought societal change, relying on poetry as a means to achieve it. Main themes included Spain, social injustice, and the longing for freedom. The language was clear, prosaic, and conversational, but with many rhetorical devices. Notable works include:
- Gabriel Celaya (Cantos Iberos)
- Blas de Otero (Ángel Fieramente Humano)
Roll of the 60s: Poetry of Knowledge
By the end of the 50s, a group of poets sought greater elaboration of poetic language and a shift from the collective to the individual. They defended the idea of poetry as a form of knowledge. Common themes included the transience of life, love, friendship, and reflection on one’s own poetry. They rejected previous rhetoricity. Key figures include:
- Jaime Gil de Viedma (Personal y Magra)
- Ángel González
Generation of the Last Things (Born in the 70s)
This generation combined folk art with themes of rock, television, and advertising. They had a broad cultural background, showing a preference for European and Latin American literature. They personally engaged with the audience on issues like consumer society, the Vietnam War, and urban culture (sports myths, movies, etc.). The aim was to renovate poetic language. Principal authors include:
- Pere Gimferrer (Arde el Mar)
- Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (Teoría y Juego)
Poetry with Democracy
With democracy, Leopoldo Maria Panero was seen as less influenced by society, and the number of poetry readers decreased. In general, this period was marked by an abundance of titles, with more works published than ever due to rising poetry magazines, contests, prizes, and a wide variety of trends.
The 80s: Four Streams
The 80s developed four streams:
- Neo-Surrealism: Continuing the tradition of the Generation of ’27. Dominated by Blanca Andreu and Juan Carlos Mestre.
- Minimalist Poetry: Using verse to bring man closer to the absolute. Jaime Siles is a key figure.
- Aesthetic Poetry: Characterized by the exaltation of sensuality, youth, and physical beauty. Includes Ana Rossetti and Luis Antonio de Villena.
- Intimate Poetry: Addressing issues such as memory, love, friendship, and everyday reality. Includes Miguel D’Ors and Abelardo Linares.
The 90s: Two Streams
The 90s saw two streams:
- Hermetic: Marked by claims of the avant-garde, interruption of lyrical discourse, brevity, and short lines. Authors include Andrés Sánchez Robayna, Olvido García Valdés, and Miguel Casado, who published in the journal El signo del gorrión.
- Poetry of Experience: Featuring plenty of narrative poems dealing with the author’s privacy, humor, and irony. Andrés Trapiello and Benítez Reyes are prominent figures.