Literary Movements and Generations
Romanticism
Characteristics:
- New themes and forms in literature.
- Themes include love, pessimism, absolute passion, reflections of human feelings in nature, idealization of the past, and interest in the exotic and picturesque.
- Forms include a mixture of prose and verse, use of verses with different syllable counts, and literary expressions.
- Mixing of genres (narrative and lyric poetry).
- Theater works breaking neoclassical rules and raising legendary issues.
- Prose of historicism, including historical novels.
Golden Age of Spanish Literature: Poetry and Prose
Golden Age of Spanish Literature
Renaissance Authors
Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536)
The quintessential Renaissance courtier, Garcilaso de la Vega, excelled as a soldier, writer, and lover. Born in Toledo and dying in Nice from battle wounds, his legacy includes a rich collection of Renaissance letters, elegies, pastorals, sonnets, and songs. His Eclogues, where shepherds explore themes of love, showcase his poetic prowess. A master of Renaissance themes, he introduced stanzas like the Italian lira
Read MoreModernism and Noucentisme in Spanish Literature
Modernism
Overview
Developing Hispanic-wide in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Modernism was a significant literary movement.
Influences
- Parnassianism: Pursued beauty and formal perfection.
- Symbolism: Sought to suggest true reality through symbols.
Modernists celebrated beauty in all forms, recreating beautiful places and objects, and presenting intense feelings and emotions as essential subjects. Rejecting vulgarity, they defended the aristocratic (swan). Their rejection of reality
Read MoreGeneration of ’27: Poets and Literary Critics of Spain
Dámaso Alonso
Dámaso Alonso, born in Madrid, was a poet, literary critic, and philologist associated with the Generation of ’27. He held degrees in Law, Philosophy, and Literature, actively participating in Madrid’s literary scene alongside figures like Federico García Lorca, Luis Buñuel, and Salvador Dalí. He contributed to Revista de Occidente (founded by José Ortega y Gasset) and Los Cuatro Vientos (which he founded). Alonso’s academic career included professorships in Valencia and Madrid,
Read MoreCatalan Literature: Overview of Major Authors and Works
Catalan Literature: An Overview
Llorenç Villalonga (1897-1980)
Born in Majorca, Villalonga’s literature, rooted in psychological novels, draws heavily from his Mallorcan upbringing. His works often feature prominent female characters and explore themes of aristocracy and social satire.
Novel
- Death of Woman (1931): A pivotal work in Catalan literature, this novel offers an innovative narrative about the decline of the Mallorcan aristocracy. It satirizes the nobility and critiques both Chuetas and Catalan
Life and Work of Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Life and Literary Career
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra led an eventful life, though many details remain uncertain. Born in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), likely on September 29, 1547, he spent his youth in various Spanish cities, including Madrid and Seville. In his early twenties, he traveled to Rome to serve Cardinal Acquaviva. He toured Italy and joined the Spanish Armada, participating heroically in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, a pivotal moment in the decline of Turkish
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