Spanish Poetry: Social Voice & Experience in the 50s-60s
Spanish Poetry of the Fifties
This period begins around 1955 with two significant books: Pido la paz y la palabra by Blas de Otero and Cantos Íberos by Gabriel Celaya.
Poetry was considered a form of communication addressed to the vast majority, aiming to be a tool for transforming the world.
Characteristics of Fifties Poetry
- It prioritizes the message over the form.
- The language is colloquial, sometimes prosaic.
- Predominant themes include Spain, the denunciation of injustices, work, and freedom.
- The style is simple, written in a conversational manner, intended for the vast majority so that everyone can read it.
- Poetry serves as a testimony to the time in which the poet lived.
Authors of Fifties Poetry
- Eugenio de Nora: España, pasión de vida
- Blas de Otero: Pido la paz y la palabra
- José Hierro: Quinta del 42 (or similar works reflecting his early style)
- Gabriel Celaya: Cantos Íberos
- Victoriano Crémer: Nuevos cantos de vida y esperanza
Blas de Otero’s Poetic Stages
It is important to mention the work of Blas de Otero, which is divided into three stages:
First Stage: Existential Poetry
He explores his existential problems in two books, Ángel fieramente humano and Redoble de conciencia, later merged into Ancia. Three themes are repeated:
- Metaphysical Poetry: Exploring the meaning of life and the anguish of being alone and mortal.
- Love Poems: Love as a path to transcendence and escape.
- Approach to ‘Us’: Poems addressing universal human anguish, not just the poet’s personal feelings.
Second Stage: Social Poetry
This stage addresses social issues and solidarity. The language is simple but uses resources for expressive effectiveness. Key works include Pido la paz y la palabra and En castellano.
Third Stage: Research and Experimentation
Otero uses free metric forms. There is a renewal of language that enriches poetic expression, seen in works like Historias fingidas y verdaderas.
The trajectory of Blas de Otero exemplifies the evolution of post-war Spanish poetry.
Spanish Poetry of the Sixties
The poets of the 60s, also known as the ‘Generation of ’50’ or the ‘half-century poets’, began writing in the 50s. Having lived through the Spanish Civil War as children, they viewed things differently from the preceding generation. They experienced the hard post-war years, and their themes are somewhat detached from the direct conflict.
The situation in Spain during this time eased somewhat; although censorship still existed, it was less severe than before.
Authors of the Generation of the 60s
- Madrid Group: Ángel González (Tratado de urbanismo), José Ángel Valente (Memoria y signos), Francisco Brines, Claudio Rodríguez (Alianza y condena).
- Barcelona Group: Carlos Barral (Diecinueve figuras de mi historia civil), José Agustín Goytisolo (Salmos al viento), Jaime Gil de Viedma (Moralidades).
They held a new concept of poetry: poetry as a form of knowledge, both personal and of the world. Their work has been termed the ‘Poetry of Experience’. Its core is the poet’s self (‘I’) within their specific circumstances.
Characteristics of 60s Poetry
Topics
Personal experience is central. Although the social perspective is not entirely abandoned, the focus shifts to the poet’s ‘I’. There is a return to intimate themes: love, friendship, eroticism, loneliness, memories of childhood and adolescence, and the passage of time.
While not abandoning social commentary, the focus shifts compared to the direct engagement often seen in the previous decade.
Language
They use a natural, familiar, and colloquial language, reminiscent of Luis Cernuda, transforming everyday speech into poetic language.
Metrics
Classical rhyme and stanzas are often abandoned. Free verse and blank verse (verso blanco or heroico) are frequently used.
Style
Stylistically, they seek well-crafted, purified, and rigorous work, often incorporating traces of humor and irony. There is greater stylistic elaboration compared to the 50s, yet they maintain a conversational tone.