Renewal of Narrative in 1940s Spanish America

Introduction

The evolution of Spanish American narrative in the 1940s was radical, influenced by the influx of exiles after the Spanish Civil War and contact with Hispanic authors. This led to the adoption of new narrative modes and models, resulting in experimentalism comparable to the Novecentismo and Avant-Garde movements in Spain. New storytellers sought inspiration beyond the previous generation, drawing from diverse literary figures such as William Faulkner, James Joyce, and Franz Kafka.

Precursors

Read More

Romanticism: Literature and Arts in 19th Century Europe

Characteristics of Romanticism

Historical Context

  • Crisis of absolute monarchy, return to constitutional government and parliamentary democracy.
  • Rise of nationalisms, emphasizing cultural and linguistic identities.
  • Bourgeoisie as the ruling class through trade and industrial revolution.
  • Liberalism advocating economic and political freedom and individual rights.
  • Idealism as a philosophical current prioritizing spirit and ideas over material reality.

Lyric Poetry

Romantic lyric poetry is personal and intimate,

Read More

Literary Genres and Figures of Speech: A Comprehensive Guide

Figures of Speech

Epiphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.

Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Homophony: Use of words with the same pronunciation but different meanings.

Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds.

Paranomasia: Use of words that are similar in sound but different in meaning within the same sentence.

Polysyndeton: Repetition of conjunctions.

Hyperbaton: Alteration of the standard word order.

Literary Genres

Literary

Read More

Realism and Naturalism in 19th-Century Spanish Literature

Realism and Naturalism in Spain

4. The Rise of Realism and Naturalism

The triumph of Realism in Spain was delayed due to the historical circumstances that prevented its emergence until after the 1868 revolution. The subsequent rise of a bourgeois society, a new climate of freedom, and the disappearance of censorship explain the rise of realistic literature from the 1870s onwards.

In contrast, Naturalism arrived earlier, with Zola’s works being translated immediately. However, Spanish writers didn’t

Read More

Spanish Literature: Modernism and Generation of ’98

Spanish Literature: Modernism and the Generation of ’98

Formal and Commercial Letters

Formal letters require clarity, order, and formal language, avoiding colloquialisms. They are typically addressed to an institution or its director and maintain a serious tone. Commercial letters serve as communication between businesses or between a business and an individual.

Extraoracionales Functions

Vocative: (Carlos, you)
Focus: Highlights at the beginning “as the car”
Attribute Sentence: Fortunately
Connector

Read More

Modernism and the Generation of ’98

Modernism and the Generation of ’98: Spain and the Western world experienced a turbulent period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The liberal revolution of 1868, alternating liberal and conservative governments, cronyism, and the rise of the proletariat all contributed to this upheaval. Writers and intellectuals, inspired by figures like Larra and European thought, adopted provocative stances. French artistic movements like Parnassianism, Symbolism, and Impressionism also influenced them.

Read More