Spanish and Latin American Poets: Mid-Century to Contemporary
Miguel Hernández (1910-1942)
Miguel Hernández, born into a humble family, was largely self-taught. He married Josefina Manresa, who, along with books provided by a friend, greatly influenced him. In 1934, he joined the Communist Party and later enlisted in the Republican army. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison and died of tuberculosis in 1942 in Alicante prison.
Key Works:
- Expert on Moons
- Lightning That Does Not Cease
- The Violated Whistle
- Wind of the People
- Man is a Hunter
- Songs and Ballads of Absences
Poets
Read MoreSpanish Theater in the Early 20th Century
Spanish Theater in the First Half of the 20th Century
The Spanish theater in the first half of the 20th century faced a dilemma: the drama requires viewers, but some are reluctant to the shocks that playwrights propose. Two main approaches emerged:
- Propose technically well-built works, with commercial and bourgeois characters, appealing to the viewer’s liking. This was the triumph of the so-called “critical theater.”
- Create an avant-garde theater that surprises the viewer with a high critical load.
Understanding Romance, Lyric Poetry, and Villancicos
Romance, Lyric Poetry, and Villancicos
Romance refers to compositions formed by any number of eight-syllable verses where the rhyme pairs together with the odd rhyme, and assonance is free. First romances are from the 14th century but are kept from the 15th and 16th. In the 12th century, it had a cult literary style (new ballad). Traditional theory consists essentially in showing how the minstrels, led by the fatigue that people show to the run, memorize passages that are most interesting and beautiful
Read MoreBaroque Literature: Culteranismo, Key Authors, and Themes
Culteranismo is a tendency within the Baroque period. Its characteristic is the pursuit, exemplified by Luis de Góngora, of creating a cultured and unique poetic language. It emphasizes formal beauty, colorful brilliance, and sensory experiences.
The concept is also represented by Francisco de Quevedo and Baltasar Gracián, who tend towards expressive density, concision, wit, and the use of many figures of speech.
Baroque poetry is a highlight of the 17th century. Its themes include love, morality,
Read MoreThe Influence of Troubadour Poetry on Iberian Lyricism
Cultured Primitive Lyric: Catalan, Galician-Portuguese, and Arabic-Hebrew. The lyric learned in Catalan during the 12th century emerged in Provence, where troubadour poetry influenced Catalonia in the following century. This poetry is reflected in almost 100 songbooks. The troubadour poetic character was created by known authors and expressed in a homogeneous language. It was cultivated by trovadores, whose songs were performed by minstrels. These interpreters were required to be very loyal to the
Read MoreGalician-Portuguese Medieval Poetry: Forms, Themes, and Authors
Friend Songs (Cantigas de Amigo): These are compositions in which the poet puts words into the mouth of a woman who pines for her lover. The fundamental argument revolves around unrequited love. This genre originates from primitive oral poetry that existed in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, often associated with dance, seafaring, and pilgrimages. The word “friend” appears in the first verses of these songs. The older examples have a fully indigenous character, are monologues, and develop
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