Realism and the Generation of ’98 in Spanish Literature
Realism and Naturalism in Spain
Realism emerged in mid-19th century France within the context of a burgeoning urban society. In Spain, the heyday of the movement occurred in the 1880s. Its aim was to present, as completely as possible, the world of the bourgeoisie, with its new features and problems: its relationship to power and the lower classes, the emphasis on money, and the role of passions and desire.
In the last years of the nineteenth century, there was an evolution of realistic techniques
Read MoreBeowulf and Medieval Romances: Themes, Structure, and Society
Beowulf: Mythological and Pagan Elements
Beowulf features characters with epic lives, blending naturalistic and spiritual elements. Beliefs and ideas explain the unexplainable, showcasing human-like behavior with unique characteristics.
Pagan Elements
- Adoration:
- Nerthus: Unholy sacrifice to the God Earth Mother (line 175).
- Frey: God of fertility and weather. Symbols include the boar and the ship.
- Freyja: Goddess of love and fertility.
- Odin: Known as Votan, the Anglo-Saxon counterpart of Odin.
- Sacrifices:
Courtly Love and Troubadour Poetry in Feudal Society
Courtly Love in Troubadour Poetry
Courtly love: Troubadour poetry reflected the feudal society that generated it. Spread through music, literature was made and consumed by the nobility who lived in the court. Thus, it soon became a symbol of class: courtly love became an element of courtesy, or a set of virtues related to the aristocratic and feudal, and totally opposed to villainy. Courtly love, so different from that practiced by the villains and rustic, is a true love—loyal, generous, selfless,
Read MoreShakespeare’s As You Like It: Plot Summary
Plot Summary of *As You Like It*
The De Bois Brothers and the Usurped Dukedom
Sir Rowland de Bois has recently died, and, according to the custom of primogeniture, the vast majority of his estate has passed into the possession of his eldest son, Oliver. Although Sir Rowland instructed Oliver to take good care of his brother, Orlando, Oliver refuses to do so. Out of pure spite, he denies Orlando the education, training, and property befitting a gentleman. Charles, a wrestler from the court of Duke
Read More15th Century Spain: Society, Culture & Literature
Society and Culture of the 15th Century
The 15th century was a period of significant change, marking a transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During these hundred years, Castile became the political axis of the Iberian Peninsula. The marriage between Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon united several kingdoms. This era also witnessed two major events: the discovery of America and the expulsion of the Jews. Individualist sentiment grew in importance, leading to the
Read MoreMiguel Hernández: Tradition and Avant-Garde Poetry
Tradition and Avant-Garde in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández
Miguel Hernández’s (MH) interest in literature initially led him to imitate writers belonging to the Golden Age.
MH produced an innovative poetry. His first published poem, “Pastoral,” is clearly influenced by the modernism of Rubén Darío. MH adds feeling, introspection, and complicity. On his first trip to Madrid, he wrote “Perito en Lunas” (“Proficient in Moons”), an homage to Góngora.
Later, he moved toward a Catholic poetry influenced
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