Medieval 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
Read More20th-Century Spanish Theater: A Transformation
Early Influences and Changes
Theater holds a unique position as a literary genre, with its sender-receiver relationship witnessed in a shared space. It’s also a business influenced by diverse interests. In Spain, bourgeois tastes often clashed with calls for social and ideological relevance. Entrepreneurs sought profitable entertainment, while playwrights sometimes resisted these pressures.
In the late 19th century, there were attempts to move away from the melodramatic theater popular in courts.
Read MoreSpanish Literature: Modernism to Avant-Garde
Spanish Literature: From Modernism to the Avant-Garde
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernism arose as a response to the need for renewal, distancing itself from Realist literature. Two key movements emerged: Modernism and the Generation of ’98. These movements, while distinct, shared common ground in expressing deep concerns about Spain’s future and exploring themes of love, time, and death.
Spanish Society in 1898: The loss of Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico in 1898, coupled with military
Read MoreModernism in Spanish Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Modernism
In the last third of the nineteenth century, art movements known as Modernism emerged throughout the Western world. These movements developed in architecture, literature, and painting, characterized by innovation and a strong aesthetic focus. In Spain, the main representative of Modernism is the architect Antoni Gaudí. Modernism also flourished in Latin America, originating in the Caribbean and spreading throughout the Americas before reaching Spain. Rubén Darío is widely recognized
Read MoreTradition and Nature in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
Tradition and Avant-Garde in Miguel Hernández’s Poetry
Like all great poets, Miguel Hernández’s poetry is deeply personal. However, his unique style was shaped by a blend of Spanish poetic tradition and the avant-garde movement of his time. This fusion, characteristic of the Generation of ’27, stemmed from their admiration for Luis Góngora, whose work they saw as a precursor to their own modern sensibilities. Hernández’s early work, Perito en Lunas, reflects this influence with its Gongorine
Read MoreThe Life and Poetry of Antonio Machado
Antonio Machado: A Life in Poetry
The Generation of ’98
Writer Azorín first alluded to the Generation of ’98, designating a group of writers who shared concerns and attitudes of protest regarding Spain’s situation. Pio Baroja, Azorín, and Maeztu denounced this situation. Key characteristics of this generation include shared liberal political views, promoting ideological reforms, and a concern for the problem of Spain addressed from an intimate perspective. The Generation of ’98 was deeply impacted
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