The Life and Works of Miguel de Cervantes: An In-Depth Analysis
Miguel de Cervantes: Life and Literary Legacy
Life and Early Works
Miguel de Cervantes, born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547, led a life marked by diverse experiences that profoundly influenced his writing. His life can be divided into three distinct periods:
- Formative Years: Cervantes spent his childhood and youth in various Spanish cities, including Valladolid and Cordoba. This period shaped his early education and exposure to Spanish culture.
- Military Service and Captivity: In 1569, Cervantes moved
Generation of ’27: Spanish Poetry’s Golden Age
The Generation of ’27 refers to a group of Spanish poets (including Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Dámaso Alonso, Gerardo Diego, Vicente Aleixandre, Manuel Altolaguirre, and Emilio Prados) connected by friendship and shared experiences between 1920 and 1936. The group’s name originates from the 1927 tercentenary celebration of Góngora’s death, a previously overlooked figure in Spanish literature. These poets championed Góngora’s relevance and shared a liberal, progressive ideology,
Read More15th-Century Spanish Literature: Genres and Styles
Literary Genres of the 15th Century
In the 15th century, earlier literary genres continued to be cultivated alongside some new developments. Epic poems and poems by clergy disappeared, replaced by a resurgence of old ballads that revitalized and enriched the epic form.
Important literary events were linked to courtly environments. Under courtly influence, educated lyric poetry developed, and interest in folk songs (carols) increased. Cultic drama reappeared, and prose took on historical and didactic
Read MorePost-Civil War Catalan Narrative: Evolution & Context
Vicent Andrés Estellés (1924-1993)
His works, over one hundred titles, can be related to two periods: the war and the present. The first poetic period implied a reorientation for Catalan poetry in general. He contributed to the dominant lyric poetry during the fifties with a more direct and simple language based on the colloquial register. His poetic evolution encompassed incorporating referential universes, both personal and shared, and the daily reality of war, offering a testimonial and critical
Read More19th Century Realism and Naturalism in European and Spanish Literature
The Second Half of the 19th Century in European Literature
The second half of the nineteenth century in Europe saw the consolidation of the bourgeoisie and the emergence of workers and trade union movements, alongside the rise of socialism, Marxism, and anarchism.
Spain in the 19th Century
The period began with the reign of Elizabeth II, daughter of Ferdinand VII. In 1868, a progressive revolution forced the royal family into exile, leading to the Revolutionary Six-Year (1868-1874) and the proclamation
Read MoreCatalan Literature: A Historical Overview
The Troubadour Tradition
The main genres of troubadour poetry include:
- The Song (Canso): An idealization of praise and courtly love.
- The Dawn Song (Alba): Tells the separation of lovers at dawn.
- The Pastorela: A dialogue between a knight and a shepherdess.
- The Dance Song (Balada): A song for dancing.
- The Tenso: A poetic debate between two troubadours.
- The Planh (Cry): A lament for the death of a loved one.
- The Sirventes: A personal attack or a promotion of ideas.
Catalan poets initially wrote in Occitan
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