Spanish Romantic Authors: Bécquer, Espronceda, Zorrilla & Larra
Spanish Romantic Authors
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Bécquer, a sentimental, dreamy, and idealistic poet, employed a simpler technique than his romantic predecessors. His work, Rhymes, is divided into four sections and centers on the theme of women, often with a sentimental tone. He blends verses and stanzas, uses short lines with assonance and rhyme, and favors a language with few adjectives and frequent parallels.
Espronceda
Espronceda’s lyric poetry reflects the romantic spirit, oscillating between optimism and pessimism, often focusing on lost ideals, particularly love. He is known for poems like The Song of the Pirate and The Beggar, which address social outcasts and rebels. His narrative poem, The Student of Salamanca, recounts the last hours of Felix Montemar, a student who pursues a spectral lady. Another notable work is The Devil’s World, which includes The Singing of Teresa, an elegy.
José Zorrilla
Zorrilla’s works often blend reality and fantasy, reflecting his Catholic beliefs. His celebrated poem, Won, is set in the Middle Ages. Other works include Good Judge Witness, Daisy the Keeper, Captain Montoya, and Juan Tenorio.
Narrative
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Bécquer wrote 22 varied short stories, mostly set in the past in Spain, often with fantastic elements like fairies, ghosts, and living statues. Notable stories include The Moonlight, The Organist Maitre Perez, and The Kiss.
Larra
Larra’s writings were varied, addressing the attitudes of the Spanish and areas needing improvement. In Old Castilian, he reflects on the limited refinement of the middle class. His later works include Souls’ Day and Christmas Eve.
Features of Romanticism
- The Revolt: Romanticism questioned the morality and bourgeois values of the time.
- The Evasion: Confrontation with reality led to a flight into the past, especially the Middle Ages, and remote locations.
- The Projection in Nature: Romantics expressed their emotions through nature, using dark environments, rugged landscapes, and raging seas.
- Nationalism: There was an interest in genuine expressions of the people’s soul, including popular and traditional forms of literature, legends, and stories.
Romantic Poetry Characteristics
Romantic poetry often blends verses and stanzas of varying lengths. Common themes include ideal love, passion, and loneliness.