The Generation of ’27 and Lorca’s Poetic Journey
The Generation of ’27
Overview
The Generation of ’27, a group of Spanish poets born around the turn of the 20th century, shared similar intellectual backgrounds and personal connections. Many met at the Student Residence, established by the Free Institution of Education. They participated in collective events, celebrations, and contributed to magazines like Litoral, including a tribute to Góngora, which gave the group its name. Initially influenced by Juan Ramón Jiménez and his verse and prose,
Read MoreDon Quixote: A Literary Analysis & Guide
Don Quixote: A Literary Analysis
Purpose and Structure
Cervantes’s masterpiece, Don Quixote, was published in two parts (1605 and 1615). It aimed to critique the popular chivalric romances of the time.
Part 1: Inspired by chivalric tales, an aging Alonso Quixano decides to become a knight-errant, adopting the name Don Quixote. He chooses a “lady love” (Dulcinea) and a feeble horse (Rocinante), embarking on a series of misadventures. He enlists Sancho Panza as his squire, promising him governorship
Read MoreGeneration of ’27: Lorca and the Spanish Avant-Garde
Generation of ’27: The Spanish Avant-Garde
Federico García Lorca and his Contemporaries
The Generation of ’27 refers to a group of Spanish poets who emerged in the 1920s, coinciding with the rise of the avant-garde movement. The name originates from the year they participated in a tribute commemorating the death of Luis de Góngora. Prominent members include Jorge Guillén, Federico García Lorca, Dámaso Alonso, Luis Cernuda, and Rafael Alberti.
Despite their individual styles, these poets shared
Read MoreGeneration of ’98: Spanish Literature and Existentialism
Generation of ’98: A Literary and Historical Overview
The Generation of ’98 and Modernism emerged in Spain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sharing similar literary, historical, and social contexts. However, distinct differences set them apart.
Themes
The Disaster of 1898
The Spanish-American War of 1898 resulted in the loss of Spain’s colonial empire and international prestige. Writers of the Generation of ’98, also known as the G98, responded by idealizing Castilian landscapes, history,
Read MoreTraditional Spanish Literature
Traditional Literature
Oral Literature
Traditional literature in Romance languages was often transmitted orally. Verse, particularly when accompanied by music, was preferred due to its memorability. Poetry was initially oral and anonymous, with minstrels serving as essential transmitters. This poetry endures through tradition and because it was eventually transcribed.
Lyrical Manifestations
Jarchas
Jarchas are a manifestation of lyric poetry in Muslim Spain. These are stanzas of 5 or 6 lines that appear
Read MoreMedieval Spanish Literature: Genres and Influences
Medieval Spanish Literature
Connotations
Connotations are figurative or symbolic and political meanings that communicate sensations and feelings. They are generally used in everyday language, colloquialisms, and literary texts.
Middle Ages (476-1473)
This period began with the fall of the Roman Empire.
Society
- Oratores (priests): Lived in monasteries and copied texts.
- Bellatores (nobility): Lords who owned land and fought for religion and territory.
- Laboratores (workers): The working class.
In the 12th and
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