Spanish Narrative Before 1936: Trends, Authors, and Works
Spanish Narrative Before 1936
1. Historical and Social Context
The crisis of Alfonso XII’s monarchy stemmed from social conflicts and political inefficiency. Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship restored order, but the Republican party’s 1931 electoral triumph ushered in a reformist Second Republic. The Civil War, between Republicans and Nationalist right-wing forces, began with Franco’s rebellion and ended with Nationalist victory and Republican exile.
2. Narrative of ’98: Aesthetic Renewal
A new narrative
Read More20th-Century Spanish Lyric and Dramatic Literature: Trends and Analysis
20th-Century Spanish Lyric
Trends in the Latter Half of the 20th Century
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) is a pivotal figure in 20th-century poetry, alongside César Vallejo and Octavio Paz. His work spans various styles, starting with modernism, evident in Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924). This collection showcases elements like free verse and visionary imagery. A surrealist phase followed (1925-1936), characterized by chaotic visions and enumerations, as seen in Residence on Earth
Read More20th-Century Spanish Literature: Post-Civil War to 1970s
Poetry
1960s & 1970s: The Poetry of Experience
During the 1960s, a group of young poets (who were children during the war) forged a new path, diverging from social poetry and its inherent anger. These poets, skeptical of literature’s power to change the world, focused on personal experiences: childhood memories of the civil war, love, work, and other mundane aspects of daily life. Their language, while everyday, remained accessible.
Representative Authors:
- Ángel González
- Jaime Gil de Biedma
- Francisco
20th Century Literature: Main Authors and Movements
20th Century Literature
Major Authors and Movements
English-Language Literature
William Faulkner
Characterized by somber tones that paint a chaotic and decaying world, Faulkner is renowned for his bold technical innovations, profound analysis of the human soul, and brilliant style. The Sound and the Fury depicts the decline of a family burdened by mental disability, slavery, intolerance, and primal instincts. This setting serves as the backdrop for other novels like As I Lay Dying.
John Dos Passos
Dos
Read MoreSymbolism and Modernism in Poetry
Origins and Characteristics
Poetic modernism originated in mid-19th century France with Parnassianism and Symbolism. Parnassian poets advocated for objective poetry, detached from feelings and ideologies, often evoking ancient cultures and exotic settings. By the 1870s, a shift occurred towards a new language based on suggestion. In 1886, the term “Symbolism” was introduced, representing an attempt to replace reality in poetry with the idea, translating a subjective view of reality through sensitivity.
Read MoreSpanish Golden Age Comedy: A Fusion of Dramatic Elements
Comedy Training in the Spanish Golden Age
The Birth of a National Comedy
In the vibrant theater of the Spanish Golden Age, a unique form of comedy emerged. This genre, encompassing both comedic and dramatic plays performed in corrales (open-air theaters), wasn’t merely a form of entertainment; it was a reflection of the nation’s identity.
The Tragicomedy: A Lope de Vega Innovation
The tragicomedy, a blend of tragic and comic elements, was solidified by Lope de Vega in the late sixteenth century. Lope
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