Spanish Literature: 1902 Novels & Pre-War Theatre
Spanish Narrative Styles & 1902 Novels
Direct and Indirect Narrative Styles
Both direct and indirect styles are employed in narrative to reflect the words and thoughts of characters.
- In direct style, the character’s words are transcribed literally.
- In indirect style, the narrator reports what the character says or thinks.
Novels of 1902: A Turning Point
Four novels published in 1902 marked the beginning of the revival of the novel in the first third of the twentieth century. Common features found
Read MoreGenerations of Spanish Literature: 1940-1970
Spanish Novel of the 1940s
Their works reflect the harshness of daily life and speak of uprooted and marginalized characters, whose concerns were inadequacy or sadness. This is known as the existential novel.
Works:
- *The Family of Pascual Duarte* (Cela)
- *Javier Mariño* (Torrente Ballester)
- *Nada* (Carmen Laforet)
- *The Shadow of the Cypress is Long* (Delibes)
Spanish Novel of the 1950s
Social realism appears, which includes:
- *The Light and the Blood* (Ignacio Aldecoa)
- *Among Curtains* (Carmen Martín Gaite)
Postwar Spanish Writing and Authors
Spanish Postwar Literature
Context: The Civil War
On July 17, 1936, a group of officers sublevó. En the peninsula, the uprising was uneven; the Republicans were unable to control the situation. Franco’s army occupied the country, cities were bombed, thousands were killed. The world of culture was deeply affected by these events.
Postwar Poetry
Notable figure: Miguel Hernández (1910-1942). His main feature is his inexhaustible metaphorical imagination. His work can be differentiated into two stages:
Read MoreCharacters of The House of the Spirits
Character Descriptions
Regarding the main characters, as the story goes, there is really only one central figure: the fiery and formidable Esteban Trueba. From here, there is an almost uncountable number of characters who have a small role that is essential to develop the events as they should.
Esteban Trueba
The main character, with his influence encompassing every page of the book, is Esteban Trueba, who at the time the story is told, is old, sickly, with few friends, but with his trusty silver-handled
Read MoreVirgil: Life and Major Works
Virgil: Life and Works
Virgil was born in Mantua in 70 BC into a modest family. Around the age of twenty, he went to Rome to perfect his knowledge of rhetoric. He could not practice oratory because he lacked the temperament or attitude: he was ill, shy, and had a weak presence. Dispossessed of his father’s estate, he returned to Rome, explained his situation to Augustus, and was granted an indemnity and an estate in Campania. In the final days of his life, he lived in a villa in Naples that Augustus
Read MoreSpanish Neoclassical Literature: Prose & Theater
Neoclassical Prose
During the Neoclassical period, there was limited production of lyric poetry but a significant rise in the essay and theater genres.
Key Neoclassical Prose Writers
Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1676-1764)
Feijoo is considered the first contemporary Spanish essayist. His work is characterized by a personal tone, clear language, and a great variety of themes. His extensive work spans thirteen volumes, divided into:
- Universal Theater
- Erudite and Curious Letters
He advocated for the search for
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