Postwar Catalan Poetry: Estellés, Espriu, and Martí i Pol
Postwar Catalan Poetry
Overview
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the subsequent dictatorship had a profound impact on Catalan literature. Repression and censorship aimed to erase all symbols of republicanism, particularly targeting regional languages like Catalan, Galician, and Basque. This suppression led to a flourishing of Catalan literature in exile, exploring themes of a destroyed homeland and stateless existence. Notable works from this period include Josep Carner’s Nabi and Carles Riba’
Read MoreNoucentisme and Avant-Garde Movements in Catalan Literature
Noucentisme
Noucentisme was a political and cultural movement in Catalonia from 1906 (1st Congress of the Catalan Language) to 1923 (coup d’etat of Primo de Rivera). It reflected the aspirations of the Catalan bourgeoisie and aimed to create, disseminate, and normalize Catalan culture. More than just a literary movement, Noucentisme was an ideological movement supported by political power. It sought to distance itself from Modernism and emphasized the role of institutions in developing cultural infrastructure
Read More20th-Century Latin American Literature: Overview & Analysis
20th-Century Latin American Literature
Overview
Latin American literature generally followed Spanish trends until the late 19th century when Modernism emerged. This movement rejected Spanish influence and sought inspiration from American, French, and other sources. In the early 20th century, Modernism reached its peak with Rubén Darío.
Rubén Darío
Darío’s poetry synthesized American Modernism with European movements like Parnassianism and Symbolism. His career can be divided into two phases:
- Phase
Spanish Literature: From Medieval to Baroque Periods
Medieval Literature
Cancionero Poetry
Cancionero poetry viewed poetry as a game of courtly love and literature. The poet assumed the role of a servant to his lady, to whom he directed his verses, adorned with ingenuity and conceptual development (e.g., Jorge Manrique).
Epic Poetry
With the passage of time, epic poems were fragmented, likely because the public favored requesting specific episodes, leading minstrels to recite these passages separately.
Ballads
Ballads are poems consisting of an indefinite
Read MoreLope de Vega: Life, Works, and Literary Context
Lope de Vega (1562-1635)
Life and Works
Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio was a prolific Spanish writer during the Golden Age, excelling in various literary genres, from epic poetry to drama. Born into a modest family, his turbulent personal life, including numerous love affairs, is often reflected in his works. After a personal crisis, he was ordained a priest in 1588, but this did not prevent him from engaging in further romantic relationships, notably with Marta de Nevares, with whom he had a daughter.
Read MoreFables and Fairy Tales: A Comparative Study
Fables: Didactic Stories with a Moral
Definition and Purpose
A fable is a short story with a didactic purpose, belonging to the didactic literary genre. Often confused with fairy tales, fables differ in their explicit moral. While fairy tales primarily entertain, fables aim to teach a lesson.
Structure
- Title: Often features the protagonists and hints at the moral.
- Body: Presents a brief anecdote, usually with two characters to highlight a contrast. Animals and personified objects are common protagonists.