Modernism and the Generation of ’98 in Spanish Literature
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
The Novel
During this period, the Spanish novel explored new directions. The modernist novel, epitomized by Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, emerged as a significant force. Another development was the rise of the intellectualized novel, seen in the philosophical works of Miguel de Unamuno and the novels of Pío Baroja, which often portrayed a backward and miserable Spain.
Pío Baroja (1872-1956)
Born in San Sebastián, Pío Baroja spent much of his life in Madrid.
Read MoreLiterary Concepts and Analysis
The Hero
A hero is a person of extraordinary qualities who serves as a model for a community.
Phrases
A phrase is a set of words organized around one, which functions as the core.
The Novel
A novel is a long prose narrative of imaginary events.
The Antihero
The protagonist is devoid of the extraordinary qualities with which the hero is usually presented in epics.
The Simple Sentence
A sentence is a word or set of words between two breaks that transmits a complex and meaningful message. A sentence contains
Read MoreGolden Age of Spanish Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Golden Age of Spanish Literature
Garcilaso de la Vega
Garcilaso de la Vega began his career with poetic ballads and courtly love songs, influenced by Italian aesthetics, particularly Petrarchan and Neoplatonic styles. His brief life produced a small but significant body of work: three eclogues, two elegies, one epistle, five songs, and 38 sonnets, earning him the title of “Prince of Spanish Poets.” His passion for Isabel Freire and grief over her death inspired Eclogue I and many of his sonnets. Love
Read More20th-Century Spanish Theater: Post-War to Avant-Garde
Post-War Spanish Theater
Situation at the End of the War (1936)
The two great dramatists of the previous period, Valle Inclán and Lorca, died in 1936. Some younger playwrights went into exile, such as Alberti, Casona, and Aub. Others remained in Spain, like Jardiel Poncela and Mihura.
Dramatists in Exile
Two representative names are Alejandro Casona and Max Aub. Casona, who had debuted one of his best works, La sirena varada, before the war, achieved great success in Spain upon his return from exile
Read More17th-Century Spanish Theater: Lope, Tirso, and Calderón
17th-Century Spanish Theater
This era is renowned for its influential playwrights, impactful works, and social significance. Lope de Vega revolutionized comedy by disregarding the classical unities of time, place, and action. Plays were structured in three acts (or “days”), employed varied meter (polimetría), adapted language to each character, and incorporated songs and dances, blending comedic and tragic elements.
Themes and Topics
Plays explored mythological and pastoral themes, often set in rural
Read More20th Century Spanish Poets
Federico García Lorca (1898-1936)
Theatrical Writer and Poet
Lorca’s poetry was widely known and admired, following two distinct lines:
- Classical and Traditional: Exemplified by his Gypsy Ballads, which use traditional verse to depict the exclusion, frustration, and tragic fate of the Roma people.
- Avant-Garde and Surrealist: A cutting-edge style exploring new forms of expression, evident in Poet in New York, which features surreal images that escape the logic of reality and addresses themes of dehumanization,