Spanish Poets of the Generation of ’27: Key Figures & Works
Characteristics of the Generation of ’27
The Generation of ’27 (Spanish: Generación del 27) was a group of Spanish poets who shared distinct characteristics. These authors maintained close personal relationships, often centered around the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, a hub of free education and intellectual exchange. In 1927, many participated in a tribute to the Baroque poet Luis de Góngora, whom they admired in their quest for a unique literary language distinct from everyday speech. Most began publishing around the 1920s.
They were influenced by avant-garde movements and authors like Juan Ramón Jiménez (particularly his stage of ‘pure poetry’) and the philosopher José Ortega y Gasset. However, there was also a strong interest in traditional Spanish poetic forms. The most prominent writers included:
- Pedro Salinas
- Jorge Guillén
- Gerardo Diego
- Vicente Aleixandre
- Federico García Lorca
- Dámaso Alonso
- Luis Cernuda
- Rafael Alberti
Miguel Hernández is often associated with this group as well. A shared concern for poetic language united them; metaphor and imagery played crucial roles, as did experimentation with poetic meter (métrica).
Evolution and Stages
The Generation’s evolution can be broadly divided into stages:
- 1918-1925: Early Years: Seeking to break from Modernism, poets experimented with Ultraism. Gerardo Diego’s Imagen (Image) is representative.
- 1922-1929: Consolidation: Coinciding with the Góngora centenary (1927), this period emphasized pure poetry and avant-garde influences.
- 1929-1930s: Surrealism’s Influence: Surrealism opened new paths, notably influencing poets like Vicente Aleixandre and Federico García Lorca.
- 1936-1939: Spanish Civil War: The war tragically fractured the group. Poets faced stark choices: silence, taking sides (like Alberti), or finding nuanced voices amidst the turmoil (like Cernuda and Aleixandre). Federico García Lorca was tragically killed.
- Post-War and Exile: Many poets went into exile (Guillén, Salinas, Cernuda, Alberti), while others remained in Spain (Gerardo Diego, Dámaso Alonso, Vicente Aleixandre).
- Later Recognition: Gradually, a return to normalcy occurred. The poets achieved global recognition and lasting influence, with Vicente Aleixandre winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977.
Key Figures
Pedro Salinas (1891-1951)
Born in Madrid in 1891, Salinas was a professor in Spain and abroad, dying in Boston, USA. His poetry, often complex in meaning but simple in form, features short, typically unrhymed lines, sparse adjectives, and a focus on essential elements. His work evolved through stages:
- Early Stage: Close to pure poetry and avant-garde literature. Works include Presagios (Omens), Seguro azar (Sure Chance), and Fábula y signo (Fable and Sign).
- Love Poetry Stage: Focused on themes of love. Key works are La voz a ti debida (The Voice Due to You) and Razón de amor (Reason of Love).
- Existential Stage: Cultivated more existential themes, reflecting on humanity and destiny. Works include Todo más claro (Everything Clearer) and Confianza (Confidence).
Jorge Guillén (1893-1984)
Born in Valladolid in 1893, Guillén died in Málaga in 1984. He was a professor in Spain, Europe, and the United States. He conceived his entire poetic output as a single, evolving work titled Aire nuestro (Our Air), comprising three main volumes:
- Cántico (Canticle)
- Clamor
- Homenaje (Homage)
Gerardo Diego (1896-1987)
Born in Santander in 1896, Diego also became a professor. His poetic work distinctively combines two different lines:
- Traditional/Classical: Following classical models. Works in this vein include Versos humanos (Human Verses), Soria, and Alondra de verdad (Lark of Truth).
- Avant-Garde/Experimental: Embracing experimentation, particularly Creationism. Works include Imagen (Image) and Manual de espumas (Manual of Foams).
Vicente Aleixandre (1898-1984)
Born in Seville in 1898, Aleixandre died in Madrid in 1984. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977.